The Odyssey Is the Must-See Cinematic Event of the Year
- Lana Stewart Harrington
- Jul 15
- 4 min read
The moment cinephiles everywhere have been waiting for has arrived with Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of The Odyssey. This film has been creating excitement since last year, with early ticket sales nearly crashing the internet as film enthusiasts worldwide eagerly anticipate its release.
Given Nolan’s epic portfolio, I can understand the hype. In fact, the only movie I’ve seen more than once in theaters is The Dark Knight, a film I loved before diving headfirst into researching its director. The same goes for The Prestige, which was my favorite movie in the late 2000s and where I developed an immense appreciation for Christian Bale.
If you’re unfamiliar, Nolan has made some of the most impactful, epic, and legendary movies of the 21st century, including The Dark Knight trilogy, Inception, Interstellar, and the best picture-winning Oppenheimer. To be living in the same timeline as this living legend is extraordinary. Many cinephiles admire his passion for filmmaking and his use of traditional film stock. It’s only a piece of the puzzle, but one that takes a lot of work, time, and patience to use and achieve the style and tone you are looking for.
The Odyssey is a story I am not overly familiar with. Halfway through Nolan’s film, I was reminded of a 1987 DuckTales episode called “Home Sweet Homer,” which highlighted The Odyssey by placing the ducks in the same predicaments as Odysseus. Mind you, I haven’t thought about that episode, let alone the cartoon, in about 30 years, but thanks to DuckTales, I had a teeny-tiny introduction to the famous epic.
I was viewing this story with fresh eyes, no preconceptions, and no idea what I was getting myself into, all while staying up way past my bedtime.
The Odyssey follows Odysseus (Matt Damon), the Greek king of Ithaca, his crew, and their journey home after the Trojan War. Meanwhile, at home, his wife, Penelope (Anne Hathaway), is biding her time as suitors compete for her hand in marriage. Their son, Telemachus (Tom Holland), embarks on his own journey to find his father and bring him home.
In reality, that is all you need to know going in. There are several sequences and flashbacks to what happens to the crew during their journey, which I was not expecting, which makes it that much more impactful to watch.
Nolan’s direction is superb, and the rest of the crew are experts in their fields. The cinematography is breathtaking, being Nolan’s most costly film and the first ever shot entirely on IMAX 70mm film cameras. Cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema designed acoustic “blimps” to facilitate this process, which greatly enhances the visual experience. The colors are vibrant, and the textures and richness are so vivid that it feels like you are right there with Odysseus. That’s why I recommend everyone try to watch it in IMAX 70mm if possible.
Ludwig Göransson once again delivers a captivating, immersive score that drew me into a deep flow state. I didn’t check the clock throughout the 173-minute runtime. Göransson composed the music for Sinners, my favorite film of last year, which earned an Academy Award nomination. This score envelops you, enhancing the entire cinematic experience and making it truly exceptional. Although some production elements may seem out of place at first, they blend seamlessly with the scenes, significantly strengthening the emotional connection to what’s happening on screen.
Every performance is incredible, and you can tell everyone gave their all.
Initially, I wasn’t convinced that Matt Damon would be a good fit for Odysseus before watching the film. However, after seeing it, I found that Damon delivered what is arguably the best performance of his lifetime. I am truly impressed by his skill and, dare I say, his physique in the role.
Other standout performances include Robert Pattinson as Antinous, an arrogant, two-faced brat eager to take Odysseus’ throne. Tom Holland and Zendaya are in for an exciting month with this and Spider-Man: Brand New Day. John Leguizamo plays Eumaeus, Odysseus's blind servant, while Elliot Page’s portrayal of Sinon is exceptional. These are two actors I did not expect to see, and they deliver exceptional portrayals.
Nolan has stated he wants to make a true horror film, and he proved he could do it in moments of The Odyssey. This film is low-key horror at times, mainly in the perils Odysseus and his crew face on their journey. As I stated earlier, the less you know, the better, but the horror elements include body horror and edge-of-your-seat, intense moments. I actually jumped a few times! The body horror left me wanting to close my eyes and gag. The monsters deserve their own horror franchise, if you ask me.
Bottom line: Nolan has a macabre streak, and I’m here for it.
The emotional payoff of the journey makes the whole trip worthwhile, and I teared up a few times during the final act. The ending was so epic and powerful that the audience erupted in applause. This might be the best cinematic experience I have ever had.
And believe me when I tell you: I am a “make movies 90 minutes again” truther, but I did not check the clock once during the 173-minute runtime.
Overall, I rate The Odyssey 5 out of 5 stars, a perfect 10. It genuinely lives up to the hype as a masterpiece, and I believe it will be a topic of discussion for years. Whether or not you are a mythology buff, I strongly recommend everyone experience this in an IMAX theater to truly grasp its grandeur, which cannot be matched on a home television.
Experiencing this epic story unfold this way is unlike anything I’ve ever encountered. I'm grateful to have visited Greece years ago, and this was the closest I’ve come to feeling transported back there.
It was definitely worth staying up past my bedtime and sacrificing my usual 8 hours— and that’s really saying something!
See The Odyssey only in theaters nationwide starting July 17.
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