As soon as you hear Christopher Nolan is working on a new film, it's common to feel excited. Cinemas could begin selling tickets for the next Nolan film now and people would snap them up. Very few directors command this level of respect and enthusiasm. Nolan creates interesting stories, from different or insightfully perspectives that leave a lasting impression upon viewers long after they've left the cinema. His latest film The Odyssey, has been gathering excitement since the start of the year, with some sure it would be the best film of the year long before we even saw a teaser trailer. Expectations were high. The Odyssey is undeniably a five star film, despite this I have been wondering since if I actually enjoyed the film. Read on for my full review.
Adapting a nearly 3000 year old epic story was never going to be easy, even with a three hour runtime, nevertheless Nolan manages to capture the very essence of Homer's epic tale. Sticking faithfully to the source material, Nolan takes audiences on along with Odysseus (Matt Damon) as he makes the perilous journey home from Troy to Ithaca. This Journey brings Odysseus into contact with various mythical creatures, Giants, Cyclops', Sirens and more all of which Nolan terrifying brings to life. The Cyclops will stick with viewers for a long time, the film verging on too scary, perhaps a hint to Nolan's ambitions to make a horror film. The film flits between the past and present, slowly revealing details when the plot opens allow it. Despite the three hour runtime the Odyssey is so well paced, knowing exactly when to linger in a moment (something a lot of films fail to do) and when to speed things up. In that sense it's faultless. The main issue with the film is it keeps audiences at arm's length, never making true emotional connections.
The real power of The Odyssey lies in the filmmaking, a rare trait in current cinema, where executives are currently considering using AI, which for the record would lead to the death of creative arts. Why would anyone want to use AI when Nolan has just shown us what talent and commitment can create. Nolan used 70mm film with IMAX cameras to create The Odyssey, not only is this extremely rare it also meant they needed to cut filming around every three minutes. Whilst this may have created a very stop start work environment the results are phenomenal. Every shot is beautifully crafted, reminiscent of some of the world's greatest paintings. Colour grading plays a huge role, with sandy tones woven throughout creating a cohesive film despite the jumps in time. Every shot is perfectly framed, leaving audiences to stare in awe at the well-crafted costumes, sets and props. There is a realism to the film, a result from extensive on location filming, which pushed the cast and crew to create such a film. You almost forget that these mythical creatures are well, mythical. Complimenting the spectacular visuals is Ludwig Göransson's score, which is unique in itself, using an expanded instrument set beyond a traditional orchestra.
With such a huge cast, some characters only have a few minutes on the screen. Lupita Nyong'o Playing Helen of Troy and Clytemnestra and Elliot Page playing Sinon remind us that screen time by no means dictates the level of conviction and influence a role has on a film. But it is Samantha Morton's performance as Circe that leaves a truly lasting impression, her few minutes almost steel the film. At the opposite end of the scale is Zendaya who once again showcases a bland performance. Of those with longer screen time, Anne Hathaway and Robert Patterson once again show off their impressive acting abilities. Himesh Patel is a delightful surprise, whilst Benny Safdie's Agamemnon delivers unrivalled aura. Within this extensive and impressive cast, we have the main guy, Matt Damon. Odysseus is truly his career defining role, reminiscent of Russell Crowe's Maximus in Gladiator. Damon gives his all, perfectly bringing to life the complex emotions Odysseus experiences. Damon would not be wrong to expect an Oscar nod this role.
Overall, there is no denying it, The Odyssey is a beautifully made epic that will no doubt be talked about for years as a defining part of cinema. The cast deliver some career best performances, with Matt Damon leading the way. If like me, you leave the cinema not overly sure you enjoyed The Odyssey, that's okay because the artistry of the film more than makes up for that. Make sure you see this film on the biggest screen possible.
5 Stars
Thank you for Reading xx
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