A Reel Review: THE ODYSSEY

Much like THE LORD OF THE RINGS, Homer’s ancient Greek poem THE ODYSSEY has long been thought to be impossible to bring to the big screen in all of its deserving epic-ness. An attempt in 1954 with Kirk Douglas fell short, and last year there was THE RETURN, which was well-received but only covered a sliver of the original text. THE LORD OF THE RINGS overcame the unfilmable by finding the right man for the job, and such is the case for Christopher Nolan and THE ODYSSEY. 

 

Years after the end of the great Trojan War, Odysseus (Matt Damon), and his crew undergo a long and perilous journey home. Meanwhile, in his absence, his wife Penelope (Anne Hathaway), and his son Telemachus (Tom Holland), deal with dozens of potential suitors for Odysseus’ throne. 

 

Directed by Christopher Nolan, this version of THE ODYSSEY skillfully and thankfully avoids any cinematic cliches of there’s-no-place-like-home. Although the journey is long and dangerous, packed with encounters against gods, giants, undead, and monsters…the hook of the story is Odysseus, who isn’t even sure he wants to get home. This is a man with the shadow of the Trojan Horse and war looming over him, bringing guilt and trauma which weights heavy on his mind. It’s a powerful, and resonating look at one man’s actions during war. 

 

But where THE ODYSSEY really sails is in the telling. The bulk of the film unfolds in flashbacks; with Odysseus recounting his tale to the goddess Calypso, and Telemachus learning of his father’s actions during the war. It’s a story-within-a-story that Nolan has used before, but never before is such a grand, deep, and vast way. By the time all the storylines come together at the end, the true meaning of it all hits hard.

 

THE ODYSSEY delivers on the technical side in astounding fashion. Filmed in 70mm, the film looks gorgeous, and the practical effects are jaw-dropping. The tension during sequences such as the encounters with the monstrous Cyclops, the mysterious Sirens, and a grotesque transformation into pigs is shit-the-pants worthy. And be prepared to duck for cover during the fall of Troy. The score by Ludwig Goransson is excellent. 

 

Acting is god-like from the entire cast. Matt Damon puts in a career best, as does Tom Holland, and Anne Hathaway just may take home her second Oscar. John Leguizamo nearly steals the show. The rest of the ensemble and most-impressive cast is excellent: Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Samantha Morton, Zendaya, Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal, Himesh Patel, Elliot Page, Corey Hawkins, Mia Goth, and Benny Safdie. 

 

Christopher Nolan has been criticized in the past for lacking emotion or heart in his films, and it’s been a legit gripe…but with THE ODYSSEY he makes up for it, with a third act that brings the weight of Odysseus’ journey and trauma down hard. THE ODYSSEY lives up to the original text’s scale. Nolan has used techniques here that will leave audiences wondering how it was done and scouring the internet for details for years. At long last, THE ODYSSEY has come home to the big screen properly; it just had to wait for the right man. 

 

BOTTOM LINE: See it