‘The Odyssey’ Review: The Ultimate Story of Survivor’s Guilt
The ultimate and triumphant story of survivor’s guilt. What a journey this film was (pun intended)!
The Odyssey, directed by the legendary filmmaker Sir Christopher Nolan, is an epic, continental adaptation of Homer’s The Odyssey that remains faithful to its source-staying true to the original mythological themes while adding Nolan’s unique cinematic touch—starring a rich and widely unique cast of talent, who are all led by the brilliant Matt Damon as the titular protagonist, Odysseus, and supported by many amazing artists, including Tom Holland as Odysseus’s honourable son, Telemachus, Anne Hathaway as the most loyal and patient queen/wife of Odysseus, Penelope, and the devious antagonist, Antinous, played by Robert Pattinson. The story is told over 20 years, from the birth of Telemachus to the Trojan War and through Odysseus’s death-defying return home.
The scale of this film is unlike anything I’ve ever seen on screen; you could really feel how humongous the story and its impact on the characters were, both emotionally and physically. The set design of this film was flawless, creating immersive mythological worlds that deepen the storytelling, while the cinematography is a feast for the eyes. Although the costumes and armour may not be historically accurate, they still had a presence because of the characters who wore them and the contributions they made to the story. The music score and sound design are absolutely incredible, all thanks to the supernaturally talented composer Ludwig Göransson. His use of instruments from that exact era helped elevate the film significantly.
The minimalistic use of CGI in Nolan’s films is widely well known, as he is a true believer in practical effects, which I absolutely respect. This is one of the many things I was looking forward to seeing being achieved, because I have indeed read The Odyssey and so to my curiosity, I had to see how they achieved certain aspects of the story, and they hit the nail on the head with every mythological and other worldly elements within the story, from Polythemus the Cyclops, The Underworld, Charybdis & Scylla, The Sirens and lastly, the elemental omnipresence of Poseidon and Zeus. All of these aspects were crafted with the utmost care and hard work, and there are moments in this film that will leave you in disbelief.
The performances of the leading cast are absolutely incredible. Matt as Odysseus shines through his courage, leadership, humanity and determination, all the qualities that keep him alive throughout the treacherous events on his journey home. Anne, as Penelope, marvels through her optimism, unity and patience as she is left with a kingdom without her beloved king by her side. Tom, as Telemachus, triumphs through his heart and hereditary willpower to make something better of himself for the sake of his loved ones. Finally, Robert, as Antinous, survives through his maniacal personality and his hunger for power and control. The supporting cast, such as Zendaya as the wise Greek goddess Athena, who guides Odysseus toward becoming a better man, was a moving aspect of the film, as just because someone stumbles and loses their way doesn’t mean they’re lost forever. With the right guidance, you will find what you have lost as well as what you have been looking for. As for the rest of the supporting cast, everyone on the list had their perfect amount of time to shine. I really admire that, as this film is absolutely ginormous, and I’m happy everyone got their flowers in the end.
Another element I really need to address is the surprising use of horror as a genre. Without giving too much detail, there is a certain scene with the demi-God witch known as Circe, played by the wonderfully talented Samantha Morton, and what she does in said scene definitely made my skin crawl. With that being said, I hope that whatever film Nolan brings to the big screen next, it should definitely be a horror film; he crafted such realistic scenes and made the audience believe that it was indeed real, if not too real.
The Odyssey is a triumphant film; it’s MADE for the big screen, and with its IMAX-tailored format, it’s a film you don’t want to miss out on. Everything down to the last minute detail is perfect. Sir Christopher Nolan, you are a madman, and I have nothing but the utmost respect for you and the cast and crew who evidently worked so hard on this project. Can’t wait to see what you’ll create next.
Defy the Gods.
