Key facts
- Christopher Nolan's film "The Odyssey" is noted for its IMAX-sized production and nonlinear storytelling.
- The movie adapts Homer's epic poem, with Matt Damon starring as Odysseus.
- The film was shot entirely with IMAX cameras.
- Key actors include Anne Hathaway as Penelope, Robert Pattinson as Antinous, and Tom Holland as Telemachus.
- The narrative incorporates mythological encounters and vivid imagery, with gods largely kept off-screen.
Director Christopher Nolan has discussed his preferred big screen formats, highlighting IMAX as a key choice for his latest film, "The Odyssey." The movie, which adapts Homer's ancient epic poem, is noted for its contemporary IMAX-sized bravado and Nolan's signature nonlinear storytelling.
"The Odyssey" is described as a faithful adaptation that feels distinctly like a Nolan film, exploring themes of homecoming, guilt, and the consequences of ingenuity, drawing parallels to "Oppenheimer." Matt Damon stars as Odysseus, a character grappling with the violence wrought after the fall of Troy. The film was shot entirely with IMAX cameras, aiming to be the definitive big-screen rendition of the classic tale.
The narrative begins with Odysseus's home in Ithaca overrun by suitors, including Antinous (Robert Pattinson), while his son Telemachus (Tom Holland) searches for him. Odysseus's own journey, depicted through flashbacks and episodic quests, includes encounters with mythological figures such as the Cyclops Polyphemus, the witch Circe (Samantha Morton), and the sea nymph Calypso (Charlize Theron). Despite the grand scale, the film is also seen as a human-sized tale, with Nolan wisely keeping the gods, except for Athena (Zendaya), largely off-screen.
The cinematography by Hoyte van Hoytema is praised for its vivid details and impressive depiction of natural elements, such as stormy seas and enchanted isles. While some critics note the film's "Nolan-ness" and the inherent challenges of adapting a foundational text, "The Odyssey" is largely considered a transfixing and ripping adventure story.