I’ll be honest. I mean I always am.
I didn’t expect to like The Odyssey as much as I did. It’s one of the benefits of going into a film that has so much hype with absolutely no expectations.
I consciously didn’t read up on the film or looked too deeply into the all the “controversy” surrounding casting, costumes, and accuracy. I didn’t want to obsess over the details before watching the film. I’d much rather obsess after.
Which I am, as of now, obsessed.
Some disclaimers: I have never read Homer’s Odyssey in full. I have dipped in and out of the epic mostly in my teenage years and in my 20s. I’m making it very clear that I’m definitely no expert.
While I know the shape of the story, general themes, and messages, there are parts of the epic that clearer than others. And so, I can watch the film without being lost, but I’m not so dedicated to the source material that I will be affronted by Nolan‘s creative license.
Regardless, though, if I had read the source material intensely, I don’t think it would have made much of a difference. I am not a purist in any sense when it comes to adaptations.
I believe in the creative license that one must take when they are interpreting, adapting or reimagining a work of fiction, a world of words on to the screen. Adapting is an art on to itself and part of the magic filmmaking, and really a test of skill when interpreting art.
And Christopher Nolan is a master of many things, but here in The Odyssey, for me, he truly understands storytelling intimately. From the power of dialogue, cinematography, performance, suspense, and world building, he can’t be faulted. All the other things people may complain about – the costumes, casting and the like – are inconsequential.
Reminder, this is a film, a work of art, aimed to entertain and inform, not specifically to educate. It’s an important distinction to make from, let’s say, a documentary.
Since this was the premier, the cinema was packed and we had to lock away our phones. wasn’t able to take any photos obviously but I did have my notebook in hand was diligently writing notes, jotting my thoughts down as I had them, without looking away from the screen.
Trying to decipher what I wrote was a fun left brain right brain exercise that took some time, but I go there in the end.
So, here you go 82 of my unfiltered thoughts on Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey.
Enjoy
Wait a minute. Is that Travis Scott? As the Bard? Love this. A rapper as an ancient Greek oral storyteller.
Robert Pattinson is almost unrecognisable with that bowl haircut and menacing, duplicitous energy. The accent really threw me off.
It’s fascinating how fast paced the scene move from one to the next, while still feeling measure when you’re watching the actual scene. It has something to do with the dialogue.
People made such a fuss about the accents. It doesn’t bother me at all. It’s actually the point to make this as accessible as possible. It’s not taking away from the story.
Robert Pattinson as Antinous I usually don’t like wall-to-wall score (when there is music almost continuously throughout the film with very little silence) but Nolan and the brilliant Ludwig Göransson do it in a way that it enriches and not distracts each scene.
This dialogue feels like poetry. I don’t mean that it’s lyrical or ornate, but Nolan stripped it right down to exactly what it needs to do, inform the audience, move the scene along, distinguish or speak to who the characters are while still sounding true.
I’m obsessed with how much of this movie feels like a movie. Always quoting Hary Styles here. Every scene is tangible, with real light and texture.
Even the magical elements are not fantastical, they feel immediate, even ordinary.
The non-linear approach to the story is done so well, it’s layered, not confusing, and I’m in awe of how the structure plays with time and memory.
I love how scenes switch from the close ups that feel intimate and intense, to the grand scenes of the landscape and horizon which makes us realise how small these people are in the grand scheme of things.
OMG all these boat looks so flimsy out at sea. That red sail looks so good against the blue though.
I wonder would the castle in Ithaca have looked that old back then? No, surely not. Does it matter? The way the castle is part of the landscape and hills and rises up from it is so stunning.
Anne Hathaway as Penelope and Tom Holland as Telemachus There has been a lot of talk online about the authenticity of the costumes and settings for the Bronze Age time etc. I can understand from a purist or archaeologist perspective that this would be important. But from a film perspective, it doesn’t matter.
This interpretation / adaptation feels like its own world, continuous and cohesive.
Great line alert: Odysseus: “Ten years on this fucking beach. Let’s go home.”
This doesn’t feel like a film. It’s like a continuous performance actually. An uninterrupted, interconnected performance, where each scene is its own film, it’s own moment, but somehow falls or pours into the next. I believe the music has a lot to do with it.
The sheep’s going into the cave are creepy. Oh, that’s right the cave scene, Psychro’s Cave. I heard Matt Daemon talk about this scene on Amy Poehler’s podcast Good Hang. Apparently, this is Zeus’ cave (in Crete, I believe) which is where Zeus was hidden as a baby. Apparently, they filmed there with the puppet of the giant.
The giant scene is actually epic. Nolan does so many cool things with suspense here. I can’t believe how non-CGI the Cyclops Polyphemus looks because Nolan built an actual 60-foot giant mechanical physical puppet which he filmed in the cave.
This is what films are about, showing the actual craft and using CGI minimally. Not to sound super dramatic here, but The Odyssey can actually save cinema.
I love Göransson. Give him all the awards.
Polyphemus was brought to life through practical effects rather than CGI. I feel bad for the cyclops giant. He’s so gentle with his sheep, makes cheese, but then so aggressive and eats men raw. You’d think if he’s a cheese maker then he’d also care to marinate his meats.
Ok he’s crying and talking to himself… it’s so sad. This scene, compared to the rest of the film isn’t that long, so we get so little of him, and even though we don’t understand what his general intentions are, the soldier eating cyclops giant has a wide range of emotions.
Great line alert: One of the soldiers says maybe we should reason with the cyclops when they realise he can talk, and Odysseus replies “Do you talk to ants?”
These guys are just trying to survive. Now they all hate Odysseus because he shot that arrow at the giant and they think he’s cursed them.
Honestly does Odysseus have a death wish? I forgot how absolutely ruthless he is and a bit dramatic too.
Tom Holand is a great actor. I forgot he was ever spiderman watching this. Telemachus is so good and not in annoying way.
Wow. Lupita Nyong’o is stunning. She’s also so good at doing quiet rage, just about to bubble over.
Fascinating that the same story is being told from different angles and perspectives, through the non-linear structure, but doesn’t feel confusing. Why do I keep thinking the music has a lot to do with it? The music and the dialogue.
Lupita Nyong’o stars as Helen of Troy and her sister, Clytemnestra The way Nolan does suspense is so incredible. The scene with the soldiers in the horse, going into Tory, and then coming out of the horse and attacking – that whole thing was amazing to watch. Eyes glued to the screen.
The men are turning on Odysseus when they reach this island. They are sick of him. It’s kind of nuts, because he is frustrating, dishonest, makes mistakes, but he’s also sensitive, loyal, riddled with guilt.
I like Circe, played so well by Samantha Morton. Apparently, Circe is often considered the first witch in Western literature. I love how she, and particularly her magic is being depicted. She is like an artist, a sculptor, transforming and moulding these men into animals.
The way they are eating the meal is actually foul. Straight to jail if that was happening on my dining table.
OK now they are talking to the dead and I like how the ghosts are graceful in an eerie way. They tell him some crazy stuff honestly. And Sinon is so mad. Poor Sinon.
Odysseus is always put in these annoying situations. He has to keep things secret from his men so they do what they need to do, so the majority of people survive. I guess it’s about leadership. A king has to make these decisions.
We are all our own worst enemies.
Anne Hathway is so excellent in this. She’s so, so good. The way you can read exactly what she’s saying and thinking, the way she questions and toys with the loser that is Antinous is so excellent.
Prediction: Anne Hathaway will get nominated for her performance I’m really appreciating Hathway’s bare face and how you can see her actual pores and fine lines and expressions. This is not a slight, in the least, about any work she may or may not have done.
So annoying. Antinous is such a jock eff boy, and not subtle at all. Ok, so he and Melantho are conspiring. Makes sense. Love Mia Goth, exceptional talent. Honestly there is no such thing as a small role if you’re a brilliant performer. Can’t stop watching how she takes over the screen.
OK so we are back at sea now and Odysseus and these men are now going to swim past these sirens. He’s so dramatic. Wants to be tied up with no wax in his ears so he can hear the sirens call but bot be able to go to them so he can torture himself, “I’ll be the first person to do it” – this is why women live longer than men.
I wish we could see what these sirens look like. And it’s clever, but also expected, that we can’t hear the siren’s song.
Great line alert: Odysseus describing the siren song: “It’s the song of all the failed promises I failed to keep”
I jump out of my seat, actually, when that Kraken monster, with its tentacles grabs some of the soldiers and takes them into its cave. I wonder if it’s a puppet too.
Seriously I can’t with Eurylochus (Himesh Patel) he’s like HR, walking around always questioning Odysseus, taking him to task.
No one said it would be easy to be King but it’s not easy having to obey one. It’s a strange dynamic because the soldiers need Odysseus, he’s their leader, but they also don’t trust him. What do you do?
Zendaya as Athena OK these soldiers are annoying me. Odysseus gave them one job. Don’t eat the sacred cattle and sheep on the island of Thrinacia, which belong to the sun god, Helio. So what do they do? Burry a hole far away from Odysseus and eat them there, thinking he wont notice.
Honestly, Circe was right. These disgusting men with their appetites. Well now they are going to die. They would have been better off as pigs with her.
Zenday is good too. Athena feels like she’s also taking him to task, making him reflect, but not in an annoying way. It’s interesting how he speaks to her.
I like these scenes of Odysseus with Calypso. They are grounding the time line. Also Charlize Theoron as Calypso is brilliant. She so effortless at being otherworldly beautiful. I don’t mean physically (I mean that too obviously cause I have eyes) but how she acts, her voice, her gazes.
So interesting to see how they fish on the island. It feels less violent.
A very interesting concept that’s being explored between being held captive on the island by Calypso versus her saving his life.
The way the realisation of why he’s on the island, him telling Calypso his story, is done so well. It’s making more sense now, this is all part of his punishment, his atonement for how he led his men and that maybe one of the reasons why he doesn’t want to go back home, why he allowed himself to be captive.
Helen telling Telemachus to apologise to his mother for her for all the battles that have been fought in her name. Imagine having that kind of guilt, all of this because of her.
Tom Holland as Telemachus Ok he’s left. Good. Back on Ithica, even better. Ah I can’t believe Eumaeus (John Leguizamo) got beat up. Ok finally, Odysseus is getting mad now.
This temple is so beautiful. I wonder where exactly it was filmed. OK Odysseus’ cloak is a bit too on point, perfectly hiding his face.
Oh yeah, that’s so satisfying watching Odysseus kill the guy who is trying to kill his son and beat up Eumaeus. You’d think after seven years of being on that island chilling and eating lotus flowers that his fighting skills would have been a bit rusty, but nope.
It’s very believable actually that Telemachus had no idea who he is.
Great line alert: Telemachus says where did a beggar learn to fight like that? Odysseus says: “No one is born a beggar.”
Another great line alert: Telemachus and Odysseus planning their next move to get rid of all the suitors, Odysseus pretending his name is Sinon, and Odysseus says he’ll remain disguised as a beggar and Telemachus asks why, Odysseus: “The clearest view for a man is from below.”
OK Telemachus is back in the castle in Ithica and Antinous is seething that he’s not dead. Haha it’s actually hilarious, petulant child.
Hathaway is really a fine actress. Amazing in this scene with her son when they are trying to plan something, and he can’t tell her that Odysseus is back. I predict she’ll get nominated for an Oscar. I really never knew she could rage, frustration and sadness all at the same time in this way. She also has such great posture.
This was an epic scene Penelope is so loyal. She’s incredible. I also like the name Penelope.
Wow Telemachus realizing the beggar is Odysseus because of how he pets the dog. Holland did a great job in that moment, almost crying but not. It’s a great echo / reference back to one of the first scenes in the film when he welcomes in a beggar and says “Zues can be disguised as a stranger” good foreshadowing.
Ah, Odysseus and Penelope finally talking through the screen. I mean it’s a little weird that he isn’t disguising his voice, and she isn’t recognizing it. That’s her husband, even if it has been twenty years, one would recognise it no? And the perfectly creased cloak covering his face… I don’t know about that.
Doesn’t matter I’m glued to their conversation. The woman bathing his feet seeing the scar and knowing it’s him as she stitched him up years ago. I don’t know why that feels very emotional.
That’s an intense conversation. Guilt is terrible. The worst kind is what Odysseus has. When all your bone deep beliefs and plans come to life, and you see them happening in front of you and you realize that it’s just murdering people and destroying a city and that it’s all because of you. And then you’re the reason so many of your men are also dead…
The final Trojan War is horrible.
Beautiful, perfect, so good, having Athena’s face be the face of the innocent women his men killed at Troy. The layers of guilt, belief, resolution, personified. This is why he was punishing himself all along, and it was executed in the story here so well.
He’s just a man riddled with guilt, trying to atone.
This film makes reaffirms my pacifist beliefs. A point of privilege sure, but still.
Again, not noticing any weird CGI stuff anywhere. Feels so good.
You know what’s good? There are so many dark scenes here but I can see everything perfectly. Even though I’m so close to the IMAX screen. Hate it when it’s too dark – cough, cough, Game of Thrones.
Penelope has had enough. Feel bad for her, having to deal with these gross suitors. She should have made them all fight each other and the last man standing marries her and then kill the last one.
I love her little throne room area, with the water coming out of the wall and the chair itself.
The challenge with the arrow was done so well. Antinous won’t even try he’s such a loser coward. Everyone laughing when Odysseus is trying to string the bow.
Just got goosebumps when he strummed the bow and Penelope half turns. It’s on now.
The fight scene is incredible. It’s rare for me to be this engaged in a long fight scene but it’s done so well.
Can’t imagine what kind of training Matt Damon had to go through for this I like Telemachus’ crown. Very minimal.
Interesting, Nolan changed the end a bit. Well didn’t change but imagined another part. It feels modern and I don’t mean that in a bad way. Very Lord of the Rings in some respects.
This film did what it was supposed to do. I want more films. It kept me engaged, grabbed me from the collar and did let me go through out the whole story.
You know what’s going to happen? People are going to go and read and research more on The Odyssey, people who were never interested and exposed.
Christopher Nolan on set of The Odyssey Nolan is a master storyteller.
I don’t have a copy of Homer’s The Odyssey actually. I’ll go buy one tomorrow.
YOU'RE the person I probably should have seen the movie with at least on the second viewing. ;) Great stuff, love the real-time notes, that's something I would do and maybe still need to.
Agree with most of your points, especially that you don't notice any CGI. I left another comment somewhere on your feed, but can't see it now- re Charlize and her Dior ad haunting me in her scenes.