Following the incredibly successful Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan has returned with The Odyssey, an adaptation of Homer’s epic. With so much to say about this phenomenal picture, it is perhaps best encapsulated as a true cinematic masterpiece.
On a perilous journey home, Odysseus must face an onslaught of deadly obstacles as he makes his way across the Mediterranean Sea. Matt Damon leads the story. He is supported by a large ensemble cast, including Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Samantha Morton, John Leguizamo, Charlize Theron and Zendaya.
The amount of praise that could be placed on The Odyssey is endless, but the best place to start is in its construction. Told through multiple timelines, Christopher Nolan has once again utilised ‘time’ itself as a character in the narrative. In doing so, the story is propelled at the quick pace that Nolan is known for. This approach ensures the 173-minute runtime never drags. The film demands close attention, but its high quality guarantees that those who are fully engaged are rewarded handsomely.
With each scene, The Odyssey continues to improve on itself. More than a handful of sequences and set-pieces deliver unforgettable experiences that will surely go down in cinematic history. Some involve mythical creatures, others focus on the human soul, but all are crafted impeccably. Two scenes in particular are utterly chilling and would feel right at home in an out-and-out horror movie.
The film has many fantastic performances from the best actors working today. Matt Damon is perfect as our protagonist, Robert Pattinson is suitably slimy, and Anne Hathaway steals the show (unsurprisingly). We could commend the whole cast, but a few more worth spotlighting are Samantha Morton and John Leguizamo, who stun in all their scene’s.
We would be remiss not to discuss the film’s technical aspects. Hoyte van Hoytema’s cinematography is jawdropping. His appreciation of nature’s beauty ensures that every moment is cemented in a ‘real’ space, no matter how fantastical the story gets. Finally, Ludwig Göransson’s score is a masterclass of sound. Utilising a variety of instruments (including synthesisers), the soundtrack frames every scene superbly, especially the movie’s bombastic finale.
The Odyssey is the result of an auteur’s vision solidified by a cast and crew performing at the top of their game. Time will tell where this picture lands when ranking Christopher Nolan’s filmography, but, as it stands, you would have to deny reality to call it anything less than a masterpiece.