Christopher Nolan is back with another massive blockbuster, trading his usual science and technology for a pure and unadulterated dive into mythology. The big question is: does he land this ship, or does it get lost at sea?
From the get-go, Nolan had a Sisyphus-sized boulder to push up a hill. He was adapting the ultimate foundational epic—the very story that birthed the ‘hero’s journey’ archetype that modern storytelling has leaned on for centuries. He also shouldered the pressure of being the first director in history to shoot a feature film entirely on IMAX 70mm film. Yet, much like Odysseus facing the open ocean, Nolan braved this uncharted cinematic voyage without fear. And like the legendary captain, he didn’t sail alone, relying on an extraordinary cast and crew to help him navigate the journey.
Starting with our lead, Matt Damon does an amazing job as Odysseus. He carries a powerful presence that dominates the screen, and even when he’s off-camera, you feel his weight through the songs and stories of his Trojan War exploits. Beside him is a crew defined by unique personalities and fierce loyalty. Himesh Patel shines as the second-in-command, Eurylochus. His dynamic with Damon is a major highlight—they show a deep, lived-in respect for one another, yet Eurylochus isn’t afraid to challenge Odysseus when his decisions put the crew in harm’s way.
The brilliance of this cast extends far beyond the hull of Odysseus’s ship, with the story in the home island of Ithaca being anchored by equally powerful performances. Tom Holland portrays a restless Telemachus, perfectly capturing the desperate, youthful hunger of a son tired of waiting and wanting to reunite with his father. Anne Hathaway brings an immense emotional weight to Penelope, illustrating the profound exhaustion of waiting decades while being surrounded by suitors every day trying to take Odysseus’s place. Standing out among the suitors is Robert Pattinson, who crafts an incredibly detestable and slimy villain in Antinous—playing him as a wonderfully ruthless opportunist trying to steal Penelope’s hand and take the throne for himself.
And even characters with less than five minutes of screen time leave a lasting, unforgettable impression on the viewer. There is Zendaya’s Athena, who acts as a crucial confidante to Odysseus throughout the movie. Charlize Theron’s Calypso and Samantha Morton’s Circe both amazingly portray their characters, showing how they have lived for centuries but can still be awed by the sheer resilience of Odysseus. Benny Safdie’s Agamemnon completely takes every scene for himself without having to utter a single word; his silent presence is truly all you need. John Leguizamo’s Eumaeus is always right there to passionately defend the honor of Odysseus in his own loyal way. Honestly, there are so many other great performances like these that I could be writing about them for hours.
But with a cast this giant, some characters naturally get the short end of the stick when it comes to screen time. Take Lupita Nyong’o’s Helen of Troy and Clytemnestra, for example. Despite being given two roles to play—one of them being Helen, who is one of, if not the major cause of the Trojan War—she is pushed so far into the back that you could mistake her for a background character if it weren’t for a single, brief scene and her makeup.
But a great cast is nothing if they don’t have a great stage to perform on, and the beautiful locations chosen for filming bring out everything you need from this magical world. From the beautiful and vast beaches, to giant structures like the walls of Troy and the gifted horse, to the amazingly built boats—everything feels incredibly tangible.
The cinematography and lighting join in with the location and actors to create beautiful shots, making characters feel gigantic or small. The light always looks natural, and the actors are lit the perfect way when needed to either show or hide their faces. When it comes to joining the mystical to the real, the CGI leaves nothing to complain about. All the magical and mystical creatures look beautiful and are greatly blended in with real places and people; you never feel like there was nothing there when they filmed, but rather that there were real, giant creatures next to them at all times. On the practical side of things, the water makes it all feel so real. When they are in a storm, the camera goes up and down with the ship, and the strong waves will make you yourself feel as though they are hitting your body.
The costumes are equally well done. The armor of Odysseus’s crew, the soldiers of Troy, and Agamemnon’s armor by itself are great. All of the cloth clothing looks beautiful and accurate; the rich have colorful and perfectly clean cloth, while the beggars are layered in dirt. And lastly, the soundtrack by Ludwig Göransson is the whipped cream on this layered cake, knowing exactly when to explode and when to subtly stay in the background.
In conclusion, The Odyssey is an epic on the level of Ben-Hur and Spartacus. Nolan and his crew do not only land this massive ship, but surely leave their mark in film history.
The Odyssey releases in theaters on July 17.
