The Odyssey

The Odyssey. Heard of it? Little story of a guy on a boat trying to get home. Along the way he meets all sorts of odd and interesting characters. No, there are no hobbits. That is another story. The Odyssey is the mother of all adventures and this version by Christopher Nolan is as epic as they come. With a star studded cast and scenes shot in Imax proportions, this is one we will be talking about all year.

Synopsis: After the Trojan War, Odysseus (Matt Damon) faces a dangerous voyage back to Ithaca, meeting creatures like the Cyclops Polyphemus, Sirens, and Calypso along the way.

Even if you do not know the whole story you know the characters. You just may not remember that you know them from The Odyssey. Terms like “Trojan Horse”, or “the sirens song”, even Cyclops. We were introduced to them from the writings of Homer. Every one that Odysseus encounters is brought to life so vividly and authentic by a director who loves the craft of filmmaking.

Matt Damon is an interesting but thoughtful choice to play our hero. I think Damon himself was just as shocked. But as we here the story and see it play out we realize that no one fits better. Matt has a loyal and compassionate side that is balance by a strong Boston fire that burns strong when it comes to those he is loyal to. Odysseus I feel like would have had those same characteristics.

It is hard to pin point a favorite moment in this film. Each battle, every conversation, all of the love and loss is woven together so that not one stands above the other, but instead make the sum of the parts momentous. Cyclops becomes more impressive when you know that it was a giant puppet and not CGI. The scale and nature of the moments in the beasts cave become even more engrossing. The battles with 100 men is impactful because there are 100 men on camera. Not added later. When telling a story like The Odyssey it would be sacrilegious to do it any other way.

If the adventures are the power the beauty lies in the Ithaca, the home that Odysseus left behind to go to war. Back there we see his wife Queen Penelope (Anne Hathaway) and his son Telemachus (Tom Holland) longing for his return. They have been in limbo for nearly 20-years praying for his return. Most of his loyal subjects have lost hope. The palace is filled with “suitors” hoping to be picked by Penelope as her husband. At the head of this suitor parade is Antinous (Robert Pattinson) who is as loathsome as they come. As we watch Penelope’s sorrow we wish for the return of Odysseus as much as her.

Much of the journey takes place at sea and those scenes are huge on screen. All the talk of Zeus and Poseidon seem all too real as we watch the waves pound. As the crew becomes smaller and smaller and the trek feels even more hopeless these moments become an anchor for viewers. We are in it at all cost. There is a lot to tell in 2h53m, and Nolan makes full use of that time. A lot happens and thankfully times passes quickly. If you are worried about the run time, don’t be. Just see it on the largest screen possible.

As mentioned there are so many familiar names and faces in this one. Some used more than others. There has been so much talk and controversy about the role of Helen of Troy going to Lupita Nyong’o, yet her screen time is little more than a blip. Samantha Morton as Circe, Zendaya as Athena, Charlize Theron as Calypso; they are all there but only for their small part – but important – part of the journey. Two standout performances are Himesh Patel as Himesh Patel and John Leguizamo as Eumaeus. I am sure we will be talking about either or both of these come award season. In fact most award conversation will more than likely revolve around this film.

Are you up on your Greek Gods? If you are it will help. Knowing who is who in the Greek world will help, but if you know nothing going in you won’t be completely lost. If you have read the book a lot you will be golden.

There is no doubt this is the summer movie to see. Will it recoup the 700M it needs to break even? I don’t know, but I feel like it wasn’t about the money for Nolan and crew. Like Odysseus and his crew it was more about the voyage and doing something worthy of telling. That mission was surely accomplished.

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Matt Mungle

Critics Choice Association Member. Subscribe to The Mungle Minute on my Insta page. It’s the minute that matters!

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