the humanity behind the hero
Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey finds its greatest strength not in spectacle, but in the people at its center.
I must admit a hard truth…. I went into The Odyssey with surprisingly low expectations. Did I think the film would be bad? Objectively that would be almost impossible. However, I did think it would not be my cup of tea, but boy am I glad to be so very wrong. Directed by Christopher Nolan, The Odyssey is nothing short of a masterpiece. To give the film anything less than 5 /5 stars would be doing it a major disservice.
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is an action film that brings to life the story behind the ancient Greek poem. The film chronicles the journey of Odysseus, the Greek king of Ithaca, on his tumultuous decade-long journey home after the Trojan War. The film simultaneously follows Odysseus’s son, Telemachus, as he searches for word of his father to protect his mother Penelope, from the torment of the suitors who have taken over their home. Such an in-depth and layered story to tell, yet Christopher Nolan did so perfectly. The way he chose to cast this film, as with many of his projects, is incredibly intriguing. He brought back numerous actors he had worked with previously on other projects: Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, and Robert Pattinson. There were new additions to the Christopher Nolan circle as well: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o. The inclusion of Travis Scott as a bard was incredibly creative and innovative. Nolan wanted to pay homage to the idea that story has been handed down as oral poetry, translating to rap. Therefore, using a current day rapper brought a modern nod to such a historical piece.
The Odyssey is the first feature film in history to ever be solely filmed on 15/70mm IMAX cameras. They filmed across six different countries without the use of any green screen. This automatically adds an authentic and captivating feel to the film. Every IMAX roll lasted under three minutes, which led to actor pauses in real-time mid dialogue, which in my opinion gave a raw feel to the relationships and action that were built on screen.
I could spend forever dissecting the making of this film and why it was so special, but the heart of it all lies with the on-screen performances we saw from the actors and actresses. This was a film where the passion and determination to the story was felt from all parties and it bled onto the screen. Matt Damon was completely transformed into someone we have never seen before. He brought a vulnerable and exposed humanness to Odysseus that was necessary for the audience to truly connect with him. More than just a leader, we saw his internal struggles throughout the film and he served as a reminder that even those expected to lead, at heart question their choices and what it means to be a true leader. The earnestness from Matt Damon in this role has solidified him no doubt as the strongest Oscar contender. Anne Hathaway was another standout from this film. The intense bare honesty she played into her character Penelope was enveloping the entire film. She brought into reality the harsh environment women were put into and the unrealistic expectations placed on them and her. She had been leading for years yet because she was a “wife” she was not fit to lead on her own? Needing to be replaced by her own son if her husband could not return? Her anger and frustration was needed and appreciated by all the audience.
There were too many standouts to mention them all but I would be remiss if I did not mention Elliot Page and Robert Pattinson. Elliot Page had about five minutes of screen time yet those five minutes were spellbinding. His anger towards the deceit he faced in the war was incredible and dare I say, I would not be surprised if he faces award season buzz for his stellar performance. As for Robert Pattinson, his ability to play a character that makes me want to scream at the screen in frustration should be studied. He is far too good at successfully playing a manipulative man. His performance as Antinous made my skin crawl, just as intended.
From filming on location, shot all on IMAX film, with a stellar cast, incredible storyline, beautiful coloring, the film invites the audience into the emotional interior of all the characters. We were on the journey home from Troy and it was nothing short of remarkable.
Shelby Ferguson
