Photo via IMDb
By Keith Walther | Rose Law Group Reporter
What do you get when possibly the greatest director in cinema history takes on one of the oldest surviving works of literature? A masterpiece. “The Odyssey” is adapted from Homer’s epic poem written approximately between 750 and 650 BCE and has been a mainstay as required reading in Western education for thousands of years. While this story has been recreated into a film over 30 times, this one is the most comprehensive version to date.
After his diabolical plan of deception finally wins the Trojan War, Odysseus (Matt Damon) faces an even more difficult trial of getting home. He must navigate uncharted waters, face mythical monsters and deities like the Cyclops Polyphemus, Giants, Sirens, Circe (Samantha Morton), and Calypso (Charlize Theron), all while trying in vain to keep his men alive. Waiting for him all these years at home in Ithaca are his son Telemachus (Tom Holland) and wife Penelope (Anne Hathaway), who are beset by numerous suitors, led by Antinous (Robert Pattinson), looking to claim the vacant throne as their own.
The scale and scope of this production is breathtakingly large, but Sir Christopher Nolan was more than up for the challenge, increasing the degree of difficulty by filming the entire three-hour epic using IMAX 70mm cameras, the only director to accomplish this feat. For those who aren’t aware, these IMAX cameras can only record a few minutes of footage at a time before needing to be reloaded. The payoff is undeniable, producing the most intensely visual spectacle made for the big screen coupled with thunderous sound that leaves audiences having not only seen and heard the profound experience, but also felt the experience.
Nolan’s dedication to using the most advanced filmmaking technology is only surpassed by his attention to every little detail to ensure his viewers receive the most authentic experience possible. From impeccable costumes showing the wear and tear of weather degradation over the years to hair design that is consistent with Greece during the Bronze Age without the use of any wigs, there is no detail that is too small for Nolan’s pursuit of perfection. He purposefully shot on location in Favignana outside Sicily to portray the island of Ithaca, in Morocco for the Troy scenes, and even Iceland during June with the unique all-day lighting of the midnight sun to depict the cold isolation of Hades. Nolan even insists that the instruments of that time period such as the lyre, the aulos flute, and bronze gongs be used instead of a traditional orchestra. Ludwig Göransson, who has already won three Oscars for “Black Panther,” “Oppenheimer,” and “Sinners,” uses this directive to great effect, producing a uniquely authentic sound that feels magically alive as another distinct character in the film. All these efforts combine creating an immersive experience for the audience, transporting them to these exotic landscapes of the past with a mythical decadence.
While ancient Greek mythology plays an integral role in this tale, providing spellbinding fantasy, Nolan never misses an opportunity to ground the story amidst the harsh realities of war that are reflective of today’s geopolitical climate. He consistently hammers viewers with direct questions of morality and honor that challenge the characters, especially the main character, during times of continuous calamity. Nolan does not dictate the right or wrong solutions to these questions. He merely portrays the imperfections of the human condition and the consequences of choices made as the characters constantly wrestle with the most palatable conclusions of said consequences. By relegating the Greek Gods in more of an indirect, symbolic way, he’s able to focus the story on humanity and the pursuit of being morally and ethically just, giving the fantasy much more relatability.
Like his previous Oscar winning film “Oppenheimer,” Nolan commands a cast of elite talent beginning with Matt Damon in the lead role. This character is extremely challenging, but Damon delivers the performance of a lifetime, exhibiting the deep psychological nuances of this iconic character. He humanizes this mythical persona by portraying him as a flawed human, constantly wrestling with the guilt of his choices against the weight of desperately seeking a path home to his family. It wouldn’t be that surprising to see Damon hoist his first Oscar for acting in March.
Even more remarkable is the fact that this film features an overwhelmingly large supporting cast, and Christopher Nolan somehow brings out the best performance in every single one of them. Tom Holland, John Leguizamo, Samantha Morton, Charlize Theron, Zendaya, Jon Bernthal, and Lupita Nyong’o provide significant contributions that make their scenes equally impactful. However, it is Anne Hathaway and Robert Pattinson who truly shine, evoking such raw emotion and intentional cunning in their performances. Both hard-working actors will have been in five major motion pictures each before the year is done.
This is one of those rare films you don’t simply watch, you experience it. “The Odyssey” is not only the movie event of the year, but it will undoubtedly be an Oscar contender in nearly every category, so don’t hesitate to see this in the theater, especially IMAX, the way it is meant to be seen. This kind of sprawling, spectacular epic is a unicorn in modern Hollywood and may not be seen again for a long time if ever.
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