The Odyssey is Christopher Nolan’s 14th feature film. Since 1998, Nolan’s delivered comic book adaptations, mind-bending science fiction journeys, a mysterious magician tale, and a breathtaking biopic. His latest film is an adaptation of a 2,700-year-old Greek poem by Homer.
The story is straightforward – Odysseus (Matt Damon), King of Ithaca is on a long journey home following the Trojan War. During his journey home, Odysseus encounters various mythical beings, Gods, monsters, men, and treacherous seas.
In Ithaca, Odysseus’ son Telemachus (Tom Holland) desperately wants to know the fate of his father and looks to rid Ithaca of all its suitors and take the throne as King. His mother, Penelope (Anne Hathaway) is preparing for the inevitable; she’ll have to marry one of the many suitors who await her decision. The slimiest of the suitors is Antinous (Robert Pattinson), who is plotting and planning a way to be King.
In true Nolan fashion, the story is told in non-linear fashion – is it truly a Christopher Nolan film if it doesn’t play with the perspective of time. It starts with the present and uses flashbacks as Odysseus sits on the island of Ogygia with Calypso (Charlize Theron) trying to remember who he is.
Very few filmmakers can make a film feel big like Christoper Nolan. This film is packed with big sprawling shots of the sea, beautiful shots of the coast, and other jaw-dropping visuals. Some of the film’s best visuals come when the Odysseus’ men are in search for food and stumble upon a woman.
The action is some of the best Nolan has directed. There are plenty of action sequences to choose from, especially in the third act. The best sequence is with the Laestrygonians. They look amazing in the armor. The battle takes place in a magical pine forest that makes it even more difficult to survive.
The film features one of the best ensemble casts. It’s the best Matt Damon performance in years, and one of the best performances of the year. Not to mention, Anene Hathaway and Tom Holland are incredible onscreen together. Robert Pattinson is so good, he’s going to get under people’s skin when they see him.
There aren’t enough people talking about how good Himesh Patel (Yesterday, Exit Eleven) is as an actor, but he’s fantastic as Eurylochus. There are also fantastic supporting performances from Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Tory/Clytemnestra, Zendaya as Athena, Corey Hawkins as Polybus, Elliot Page as Sinon, and John Bernthal as Menelaus. Bernthal has a fantastic scene with his Spider-Man co-star Tom Holland. He was a few lines away from saying, “Let me tell you something about the Trojan War” as only Bernthal could do.
All the great actors and badass action scenes aren’t what makes this movie. It’s the way Nolan tells this Greek tale that makes it work. Nolan has a way of taking something that could be complex or difficult to track and making it palatable for an audience. His ability to turn a Greek poem into an action-packed summer blockbuster should be praised. Nolan understands it’s not just following Odysseus story that people care about, how they follow it matters. How you tell a story is as important as the story you’re telling. Very few filmmakers understand that more than Christoper Nolan.
The Odyssey is what a summer blockbuster should be, and it’s one of the best films of the year. I expect it to be well represented during the award season and take a few tiny gold men. Christopher Nolan continues to be one of the best visionaries in film. If he adapted a Cat in the Hat book, he’d make it a blockbuster. I’m excited to see what journey he takes us on next.
Grade: A-
the people's critic 