This review took a while to write and even after sleeping on it, I am still at a loss for words on what I witnessed. Many (including me) believe that Oppenheimer (2023) was Nolan’s magnum opus but this is without a doubt the culmination of his career being the first film ever to be entirely shot on IMAX film.
- Director – Christopher Nolan
- Runtime – 173 minutes
- Certificate – 15
- Country – United States
And wow does it payoff. Seeing this in IMAX 70mm at the BFI IMAX may have just ruined any future cinema experiences. The sheer size of the screen is genuinely indescribable. You have to see it to gauge how big it is. My entire vision was taken up by the screen and was just blown away with the images I was seeing. Even sitting four rows from the front and to the side the view still incredible. I cannot wait to sit centre and further up for Dune: Part Three which looked unbelievable from the four minute preview which was shown beforehand.
Hoyte van Hoytema reunites with Nolan after Oppenheimer and will most likely take another Oscar home. These two create some of the most stunning visuals I’ve seen. Those wide shots of the boat in the ocean had me in disbelief. Mythical levels of filmmaking on display. What I’m saying feels like such a disservice to the film but I really am lost for words. I know it’s sounds pretentious to say but if at all possible you can see it on IMAX 70mm, you need to do it. I’m sure other aspect ratio’s aren’t as bad as people are saying but I really do think when I rewatch, it simply won’t be the same.
What impressed me the most was the sound design. Nolan has always had some complaints that the sound mixing makes it hard to understand what people are saying but here I didn’t experience any issues. But the actual sound is breathtaking. You feel every single sound pass through your soul. Everyone is mentioning it but the sound when Odysseus plucks his bow is stupidly satisfying. The sound is then symbiotic with the fantastical score.
Ludwig Göransson returns for this and he is also definitely coming for that Oscar. The score I don’t think is actually too in your face but rather subtly compliments the film. For instance whenever Odyssey plucks the bow. It’s a cue for when the score should kick in.
The way the score is woven into the film had me ascending at parts.
Obviously the cast is terrific. A whole ensemble of A-listers performing at the best. Matt Damon as Odysseus gives such a tragic performance of a man who knows he’s done wrong and that he needs to be punished. Anne Hathaway as Penelope gives a powerful performance of a Queen who misses her King sitting atop an empty throne. Tom Holland’s Telemachus is an interesting one though.
I actually think he’s pretty good here, probably his best performance, but his problem is that he’s surrounded by Damon, Hathaway and Robert Pattinson. So when compared to those I can see why people saying he is the weakest performance. However, one who isn’t a weak performance is John Leguizamo as Eumaeus. I did not expect him to have such a presence but I’m glad he did because he might have been my favourite. If I mentioned everyone’s performances I’d be here for years, they are all that good but Robert Pattinson’s Antinous is such a good villain. He knows exactly how to make you dislike him – can’t wait to see his villain in Dune: Part Three.
I know I just I can’t mention everyone but Zendaya’s Athena is another one that you have to talk about. She isn’t actually in the film much but her presence is felt throughout. A lot of the emotional weight of the film is carried on her back due to her relation with Odysseus and meaning behind it which isn’t revealed until around the last 10 minutes. Once that reveal happens, so much more of the film makes sense and is done so beautifully.
If I’m completely honest I haven’t actually read Homer’s Odyssey. Know about it and the general plot points, sure. But not the little details that others do – so I can’t comment on it exactly as an adaptation. But I will say that what Nolan does, it fits his narrative. I know that Odyssey doesn’t feel this guilt in the poem and that’s different, but when you look at Nolan’s past work I’m honestly not surprised. He clearly loves showing characters and people like this with a conscience.
I know this is a very disjointed review but my thoughts are so scattered and I’m still overwhelmed by the whole experience but the one thing I know for sure is that this is probably the film of a lifetime. Even if it isn’t in IMAX or 70mm, or whatever, just go see it on the big screen.
The Odyssey is a film experience like no other with staggering visuals, sound and score, writing and direction from Nolan, and its titanic performances. Christopher Nolan is in a league of his own and nothing is going to stop him.