- Rating: 5/5 stars
- Verdict: "The Odyssey" is a masterpiece of filmmaking. The production design, the use of practical effects and the roster of incredible actors produce an epic movie worthy of its source material. It's an instant classic, reminiscent of Hollywood epics like "Ben-Hur." If I had to criticize the movie for anything, it's that there's not much that stands out, because everything is so well done.
- Where to watch: See "The Odyssey" in theaters now
Tell me, Muse, of Christopher Nolan. The man who, after conquering the father of the atom, attempted to conquer the father of the epic. But while "Oppenheimer" was almost a pleasant surprise in how well it did, "The Odyssey" always had the weight of the world on its shoulders.
This was not just destined to be one of the biggest summer movies to watch this year. This was destined to be one of the biggest summer movies of all time. Not just in scope; adapting Homer's legendary epic was always going to be a massive undertaking. But the IMAX presales for "The Odyssey" sold out instantly, and with every ticket sold, the hype skyrocketed.
I'll freely admit that I had hardened my heart to this movie. I really liked "Oppenheimer," but, for me, Nolan's peak was in 2017 with the release of "Dunkirk." I wasn't sure that "The Odyssey" would even surpass Nolan's 2023 Oscar winner in quality, let alone approach his mid-2010s masterpiece. I didn't want to go into this movie expecting the greatest movie ever made.
But nearly three hours later, my gut reaction was, "Have I just watched the greatest movie ever made?" With some time to reflect and digest, I don't think it overtakes my top two ("Lawrence of Arabia" and "The Empire Strikes Back"), but it's in the conversation for the top five.
This is a true masterpiece of filmmaking, reminiscent of old Hollywood epics like "Ben-Hur," "The Ten Commandments" and the aforementioned T.E. Lawrence biopic. There is a combination of storytelling, acting and technical craft that you rarely see in a film. In fact, if I had to knock this movie for anything, it's that it does so many things well, it's tough to single out one thing as the best.
Malcolm has been with Tom's Guide since 2022. He watches dozens of new releases every year to make sure you don't have to watch any of the bad ones.
Nolan makes a three-hour movie feel like a thrill ride
For those who, somehow, aren't familiar, "The Odyssey" is a myth. There's a historical basis for some characters and locations, but it's the ancient equivalent of an Arthurian legend. It's also not really about the Trojan War, which is the focus of Homer's other famous epic, "The Iliad." Instead, it's about the return journey of the King of Ithaca, and legendary general, Odysseus (Matt Damon).
Nolan's version of the tale deviates from this in a major way. The Homeric epic is a tale much more about the whims of the gods and their interventions in human lives. Nolan's epic is instead about how man defies the gods when he goes to war. It's a surprisingly contemporary theme, and it's clear that Nolan is commenting on the state of our current political climate.
But it takes us nearly 20 years from the moment Odysseus leaves for Troy until he finally returns home with this wisdom. Nolan, mercifully, condenses this into a mere two hours and 52 minutes.
You wouldn't know it, though. The entire time, you're completely enthralled by what's on the screen. Whether it's Odysseus and his men fighting monsters, running from the dead, or contending with the gods themselves, you can't look away. If it's his son Telemachus (Tom Holland), wife Penelope (Anne Hathaway) and servant Eumaeus (John Leguizamo fending off the advances of suitors for Odysseus' vacant throne and marital bed, led by Antinous (Robert Pattinson), all thoughts of a possible bathroom break are evicted from your head. There's not a single moment worth missing.
In large part, this comes down to the quality of the performances. While Odysseus is nominally the main character, this film is an ensemble performance. We spend time with Odysseus and his men trying to get home, but then cut to Jon Bernthal getting to chew scenery as King Menelaus while Lupita Nyong'o tries to inform not just Telemachus, but us, the audience, about the horrors committed in her name. We see Odysseus's men transformed by the witch Circe (Samantha Morton), only to then be treated to Pattinson's Antinous being truly sleazy in his attempt to woo Penelope and kill her son.
This doesn't even account for Leguizamo's performance, which I can tell you was a fan-favorite in my screening. He delivers a line that earned one of the two moments of thunderous applause. Nor does it account for Benny Safdie and Elliott Page as Agamemnon and Sinon, respectively, both of whom are given memorable monologues to rock you to your core. As I already mentioned, it's tough to pick one standout performance because they're all standout performances.
Verdict: 'The Odyssey' is worth every penny to see on the biggest screen possible
It's not just the performances that make "The Odyssey" incredible. This is truly a technical marvel. While there's perhaps no moment as awe-inspiring as the Trinity test sequence in "Oppenheimer," the quality of the production design and costuming is apparent in every scene.
I've seen many horror movies in recent years. I don't know that anything was quite so horrifying as the first appearance of the Cyclops (Bill Irwin) in this film. The moment when Scylla strikes Odysseus' ship's crew is thrilling, and while clearly CGI, it harkens back to the Ray Harryhausen stop-motion-animated monsters of old.
Truly, I can't remember a movie that's made me think of old Hollywood so much. I couldn't help but think of "The Odyssey" as the "Ben-Hur" for this generation — except I'm not sure this generation remembers "Ben-Hur." But they'll definitely remember "The Odyssey." It's an instant classic from day one, and might just be the crowning achievement of Nolan's career.
"The Odyssey" is in theaters now
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