‘The Odyssey’ Movie Review – Is It Worth Watching?

The Odyssey is an epic sword-and-sandal mythological adventure from Christopher Nolan, which tracks the grand journey of Odysseus, a fierce warrior leader. After the Trojan War, he embarks on a treacherous voyage back to Ithaca. Confronting creatures like Cyclops, Sirens and Calypso, these quests prove his mettle and define his character in a bid to see his family once again.

Christopher Nolan is known for his monolithic, dark and oppressive world-building, crafting films that have a foreboding and heavy feel. Always spectacular, he straddles the line between arthouse and blockbuster, creating cinematic events that deserve to be seen on the big screen. The Odyssey is no different – a film best enjoyed in IMAX for the full spectacle and visceral audio-visual experience.

Having broken box-office records for IMAX with its three-day opening, and subsequently more records since its release, this seems to be the case, with people flocking to cinemas to see it as Nolan intended.

Whilst some of the viral appeal and hype has been generated through the divisive nature of its release – with many questioning the film’s intrinsic value and others declaring it to be one of the best films ever made – there’s been a great deal of speculation in the interim. This rollercoaster of opinions is the kind of thing that gets people talking, but also compels audiences to go and make up their own minds.

In much the same way as Oppenheimer, Nolan has once again assembled one of the finest ensembles of A-list actors. This dynamic and the scale of production make it reminiscent of Dune, which may have been a partial inspiration, since Denis Villeneuve has also managed to crack the sweet spot between artistic endeavour and box-office juggernaut. The Dune factor comes through in the story about royalty, the framing of stars, and the grand narrative that centres on a central protagonist caught between kingdoms and epic battles.

Set on Earth, the visual splendour and ancient world have a surreal undertone that drives a sci-fi feeling, making it a few clicks different to taking place on an entirely different planet. A stickler for authenticity, Nolan is known for minimising his use of CGI wherever possible and tends towards in-camera effects rather than dreaming up sequences in post-production. This tangible and lived-in cinematic experience helps to ground the film, which tends towards immersing audiences in a world that is mostly real, with a hint of the magical. Starting with a line to almost give him licence to operate in this space, it successfully manages to entertain and enthral.

“I am Odysseus.”

Assembling a strong cast, The Odyssey is led by Matt Damon as Odysseus- a rather safe choice with an actor who tends to be more of a vessel. Damon delivers an excellent and well-balanced performance that is convincing. While one could imagine an actor like Ethan Hawke taking on the lead role with a bit more grit, heart and soul, Damon is up to the task, in some ways echoing the casting call behind Sam Worthington in Clash of the Titans.

He’s supported by the likes of Tom Holland as Telemachus, Anne Hathaway as Queen Penelope, Charlize Theron as Calypso, Robert Pattinson as Antinous and Zendaya as Athena, who each bring their star quality to bear. The Tom Holland and Zendaya dynamic is a little distracting, recalling their involvement in Spider-Man, with Zendaya giving a nod to Dune. In a similar way to Oppenheimer, the stars are appreciated, yet too famous and almost distracting from the story at times based on their extensive filmographies.

The Odyssey is strongest when it comes to its action set-pieces, delivering spectacular cinematography and conjuring up the most vivid and death-defying action sequences thanks to Hoyte van Hoytema. From battles at sea to invasions, these epic spectacles are incredible to behold and executed with grace and dexterity.

The film is actually at its weakest when it comes to dialogue and drama in the quieter moments, with some of the language coming across as a bit clunky and even unnecessary. While the Dune influence is apparent, the film also triggers memories of Beowulf, The Northman, Troy and Immortals. While much like John Carter being the original can create the sense that these are influences, perhaps they are effectively resonating based on sharing similar original source material.

The Odyssey is majestic, and yet strangely bloodless, possibly trying to downplay the brutal and savage nature of the violent confrontations to make it more mainstream. The powerful soundtrack from Ludwig Göransson redoubles the efforts of Nolan, creating a driving and epic scale to land the visuals. Coming in at almost three hours, the film does feel a little stuffed, possibly owing to the slower dialogue scenes and the attempt to capture it all.

The performances are of a top level, as you would expect, with Matt Damon and Robert Pattinson doing the most. The visuals are superior, as well as the sound, proving again just how valuable and important the technical aspects of Nolan’s filmmaking are. Taking an already powerful story to the screen just made sense, and while the dialogue and slower moments are not quite as powerful, The Odyssey still packs a punch.

While Homer may not have written this myth with the idea that it would be served in English, it is a factor that quickly dissipates upon your enjoyment of the film. It does take a while to get started, but soon finds its groove and kicks into high gear as the soldiers find themselves under threat. Constantly running away, there is a hint of Monty Python and the Holy Grail beneath it all, but one that is largely quashed by the gravity and spellbinding nature of this epic film.

While it’s not Nolan’s best film, it certainly warrants your attention and more than entertains with its sights and sounds even at 172 minutes, breathing life into Homer’s ancient epic to stand amongst the best of them.

The bottom line: Majestic