★★★★★
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is a cinematic epic that falls within the realm of Braveheart and Gladiator.
It tells a grand story with tremendous scope and insight—an adaptation that renders Homer’s classic work in a new light for a new audience.
Nolan pens the adaptation of Homer’s work of the same name. His decision to use modern English is one that doesn’t backfire, simply because the story itself is so immersive, engaging, and captivating.
Focusing on an inaccurate depiction of Old English—when the historical language would have been a form of Ancient Greek—would have hindered the film’s reach more than it helped preserve its authentic origins.
“A cinematic epic that falls within the realm of Braveheart and Gladiator.”
While I’m not familiar with Homer’s original work, I am a little more familiar with the story of Troy. Because of that, I can’t speak to the adaptation’s faithfulness to the source material.
The rendering of the story shifts blissfully between the past, the present, and its different groups of core characters, ensuring that each one is given the proper time to develop and grow.
Nolan carefully balances the film between Odysseus, Telemachus, Penelope, and Antinous, all of whom play rather ambiguous roles within the story.
While the core of the film is about Odysseus, his attack on Troy, and his long voyage home, it is also about the decisions he made in battle and how they continue to haunt him long after the blood he shed has dried.
The supporting characters are not only impactful but demand attention, whether for better or worse. Their presence makes his journey feel even more important.
Nolan recognizes that the story itself isn’t simply about the Trojan War or the greatest trick man ever pulled. It is about the effects of what led to a collapsed society in which honor and truth mean nothing—an insightful look at one of the most famous stories in history: the Trojan horse.
Hoyte van Hoytema’s cinematography elevates Nolan’s vision on a grand scale, allowing the film’s visual depth to create an emotional dimension to the journey. There is a richness and nuance that deepens the sense of longing within the images.
The scenes at sea are vast in number, and while not every shot is insightfully grand or comprehensive, many of them are. More importantly, they enhance the emotional turmoil of the moment.
Nolan carefully chooses when to use the emotional depth of these—for lack of a better term—larger-than-life shots to emphasize the importance of a moment, much like Lawrence of Arabia.
He then uses tight, carefully framed shots during scenes of engagement between characters. One sequence follows Telemachus and Menelaus walking through a garden and shooting birds as they talk about Telemachus’s father, the throne, and what he must do.
The sequence is perfectly framed and executed. It not only captures the beauty of the moment but allows us to see how skilled Telemachus truly is, even while standing next to a warrior such as Menelaus. It offers more than a beautifully crisp image; it becomes an important underlying moment that will soon come into play.
“Hoyte van Hoytema’s cinematography elevates Nolan’s vision on a grand scale.”
Jennifer Lame’s complementary editing demonstrates an incredible attention to detail. Her ability to cut the scenes together effortlessly helps craft the film’s nearly perfect pacing.
There are slower, longer cuts during conversations that offer depth, followed by shorter cuts used to build tension, such as when Eumaeus is lurking around a corner.
The final battle scene uses quick, precise cuts and just the right tempo to build adrenaline without muddying the film’s flow.
Ludwig Göransson’s score is one of the most active scores in recent memory. It has been quite some time since I’ve heard a score that was so present within a film.
Most films use their scores to accompany the story, guide it, or elevate it during peak moments. Göransson’s score feels present throughout most of the film—potent and strong at times, then subtle and blissfully shadowing the action in the background at others.
Nevertheless, the score is pitch-perfect in every scene. It is ecstatic in tone and operates flawlessly throughout.
Nolan’s vision is clear and executed astonishingly. Having every aspect of the film work so precisely while complementing the other departments so effortlessly requires tremendous effort, vision, and discipline—especially on such a massive and grand scale.
Nolan’s ability to direct at such a high level and on such a grand scale is the direct result of a clear vision. He not only knows how to communicate that vision but how to surround himself with people he trusts to execute their part of it at the level he requires.
The performances are astonishing without question. With such a stacked cast, there isn’t a single performance that falls short.
That being said, Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, and Robert Pattinson stand out among the ensemble, largely because their characters offer the most depth and give them the greatest opportunity to showcase their abilities and fully flesh out their roles.
“The Odyssey is a grand epic that fires on all cylinders.”
The Odyssey is a grand epic that fires on all cylinders, utilizing and capitalizing on every aspect of its filmmaking to maximize the film as a whole.
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