Homer’s Greek epic “The Odyssey” follows the king of Ithaca, Odysseus and his herculean 10-year journey home after the Trojan War to reunite with his son, Telemachus, and wife, Penelope. As suitors descend on Ithaca hoping to seize the throne, Telemachus sets off to find his father.
Written around the 8th century B.C., the 12,109-line poem is one of the oldest surviving works of literature and remains a staple in high school English classrooms.
Much like the pedestal Homer’s “The Odyssey” sits on in the book world, director Christopher Nolan rests on a similar one in Hollywood. His ingenuity and reputation in ambitious filmmaking made him the best person to adapt the nearly 3,000-year-old story, and months of promotion of the film's grandeur only fueled the anticipation.
Much of the excitement stemmed from its uniqueness, a credit to Nolan’s relentless pursuit to supersede his previous work. “The Odyssey” is the first feature film to be shot entirely with IMAX film cameras, which capture more detail and a greater aspect ratio than typical digital cameras.
Despite its perks, the sheer size, weight and noise of the cameras render them difficult to use, a seemingly small issue for Nolan, who simply invented an easier-to-use version. Nolan also has a famous disdain for CGI, opting instead for a 60-foot puppeteered cyclops and a female stunt double replacement for Odysseus to pull off the movie.
Despite Nolan at the helm, a press tour to rival Odysseus’ journey home and a star-studded cast that rivals the Met Gala invite list, I wanted to judge “The Odyssey” for myself. Armed with the knowledge from my AP Literature lessons on Homer’s poem, I snagged the only ticket I could: a 10 a.m. showing of “The Odyssey” in all its IMAX glory.
The hype, it turns out, was well warranted.
Despite its 2-hour and 52 minute run time, this masterclass in filmmaking never hit a lull. Instead, Nolan’s unrelenting commitment to practical filmmaking creates a tangible world that feels immersive from beginning to end.
This was also helped by Nolan’s insistence on filming on location instead of building sets. The crew spent mornings hiking up mountains to film in a fortress, or hours on a boat, creating expansive and realistic visuals. Every character, setting and costume felt ancient and weathered, just like Homer’s epic.
Nolan wasn’t the only one to manufacture the 8th century B.C. feel; the score and cast helped tremendously.
To create the film’s score, composer Ludwig Göransson opted for ancient Greek instruments and metal scraps in place of a traditional orchestra.
The cast members wholly transformed into their roles, shedding the past skins of their stacked resumes and delivering raw, emotional and relatable performances that implored you to connect with them.
Anne Hathaway delivers a hauntingly heartbreaking performance as the disregarded Penelope. Robert Pattinson embodies a disrespectful coward as the main suitor Antinous. But it is Samantha Morton as Circe — a sorceress with the ability to transform people into animals — who steals the show, delivering a harrowing monologue about the excused cruelty and inherent greed of men toward women and power before promptly turning Odysseus’ men into what they are: pigs.
For all of its brilliance, however, there were times I felt disconnected from the movie – a criticism I heard echoed and amplified by my non-film lover friends.
That’s because “The Odyssey” isn’t made for everyone.
The average moviegoer with no interest in Greek mythology might not enjoy, appreciate or connect with this film on the same level. It was made for those who love the art of filmmaking, for that exclusive club where the entry fee is a Letterboxd account: cinephiles. Because, while the dialogue, characters and plot all excelled, it’s the technical aspects that brought this movie — and this world — to life. Not the parts created 3,000 years ago by Homer, but the choices made by Nolan to go above and beyond.
The sheer effort it took to make this film is enough for a standing ovation, but it’s Nolan’s execution that will win “The Odyssey" the accolades I’m sure it will receive.
