The Odyssey Is Chris Nolan‘s Masterpiece

The Odyssey is the latest film by Christopher Nolan and stars Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Benny Safdie, Elliot Page, Jon Berthnal, Ryan Hurst, Robert Pattinson, Himesh Patel, Samantha Morton, Mia Goth, and among others.

It‘s based on the original poem of Homer, and the film follows the story of Odysseus who is seeking to get home after the Battle of Troy, while his son Telemachus is trying to find the whereabouts of his father, because he doesn‘t want another soldier to re-marry her mother. 

It‘s One Of The Best Films Of The Year

Christopher Nolan adapting one of the most complex stories of all time, adding realism and grounded characters is something impeccable. The film goes deep down into many emotional themes, but the movie is not about the breathtaking visuals, is about the wonderful script that Nolan created for the screen.

Every shot, every frame that Nolan directs is one of the best moments in cinema, The Odyssey is truly a unforgettable experience. 

The Adaptation

Adapting Homer‘s poem, The Odyssey was a difficult task, and with all his fantastic elements, Nolan was facing something rather different, and he delivered a grounded story. The non-linear storytelling and the inclusion of flashbacks works in the best way possible. 

Nolan understood something quite powerful, this is not a story about a man returning home, is about a man facing his inner conflicts and how his journey transformed himself into a better version of himself. The action sequences are well made, providing some insightful moments for those who read the original poem.

The Performances 

Christopher Nolan is a director who likes ensembles, and here he chose the perfect cast for the roles.

Matt Damon as Odysseus, is quite good, providing one of his best works to date

Tom Holland plays Odysseu‘s son, Telemachus, Holland is once again quite good in the role and completely dissapears into it

Anne Hathaway stole every scene she‘s in as Penelope, but John Leguiznamo is the one who deserves every major award, his scenes as the old mentor is extraordinary, although he doesn‘t appear that much. Robert Pattinson as Anticious is evil, vile, and quite terrifying how well he portrays villains.

Every actor gives a very commanding performance through the screen, and it feels almost too real.

The Music and Sound Mixing

Nolan‘s films always has some sort of shock value into the music he puts in his movies, but The Odyssey is the culmination of everything he has done. Ludwig Grogansson‘s pieces are art in every sense of the way, sometimes I was transported into the ancient Greece because of the poignant melodies he mixes in, and also the sounds on IMAX where scenes like Cyclops and the Siren Song appears on screen, is one of the most terrifying sounds I‘ve ever heard.

This is meant for the big screen, and it shows how Nolan shoot the scenes. 

Final Thoughts

The Odyssey is a lifetime experience, where all the customes wore in this movie felt realistic, performances impacts in a way that hasn‘t done before. Not every decision made is a good one, but the film remains a masterpiece since the beginning and towards the end. This is a film worth to watch multiple times, not because of the visuals and the format, it‘s because of the characters, the internal conflict of the story, and the third act of the film.

Go watch it on IMAX 70mm.