Grandiose, gripping and glorious flick full of wonderful performances.
To call The Odyssey Christopher Nolan’s masterpiece would really be saying something given this is the man behind Inception , Oppenheimer , Interstellar and The Dark Knight .
But I think this epic, old-school filmmaking take on Odysseus (Matt Damon) and his dangerous voyage back to Ithaca just might be the crowning glory in his colossal CV.
This a blockbuster in the truest sense of the word – and should be seen on as big a screen as possible – which encompasses many different genres that all fit given the ancient world of magic, monsters and gods Nolan welcomes us into.
As a horror fan, it was particularly pleasing to see the director hint at how special his move into that genre could be with a standout sequence that sees Cyclops chomp down on soldiers, and the unforgettable image of a dead army chasing our heroes in Hades .
There’s also a scene involving Sirens which does more with what it doesn’t show, amid the pulsating, immersive sound design found throughout the movie, than any amount of special effects could’ve achieved.
The cast is as wonderful as it is fittingly gigantic, with no weak links to be found.
Damon is in career-best form as a fierce soldier whose loyalty is tested and mind and body are taken to several extremes as he longs for a return home.
There are far too many amazing turns to mention but Tom Holland ( Telemachus ) visibly grows into a leader before our eyes, Robert Pattinson’s Antinous is an odious, conniving coward, Anne Hathaway ( Penelope ) commands respect and a desperate will to be reunited with Odysseus , and John Leguizamo’s loyal Eumaeus is enchantingly endearing.
And Samantha Morton chills like never before as Circe , using wacky and weird witchcraft-like torture on unsuspecting soldiers.
Everything about The Odyssey , from the writing and action to the personal relationships, is grandiose, gripping and glorious, right up until the crowd-pleasing climax.
This is god-tier filmmaking.
● What are your favourite Christopher Nolan films?
Pop me an email at ian.bunting@reachplc.com and I will pass on your comments – and any movie or TV show recommendations you have – to your fellow readers.
●The Odyssey is showing in cinemas now.
*Don’t miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here.


You must be logged in to post a comment Login