The Odyssey: A Perfect Tragedy

Jordan Laube
38 minutes ago
6 min read

Christopher Nolan has reached new heights. The Odyssey isn't just the best movie in his catalogue, it's the best film ever made, period. Through meaningful dialogue, purposeful spectacle, and raw emotion, Nolan's adaptation efficiently captures the scale of Homer's three-thousand year old epic in just under three hours. Nolan's adaptation does not spare a single millisecond of screentime. In fact, every frame, scene, and act flows together to create a delightful, yet brutal, beautiful cinematic masterpiece.

Source: Universal Pictures

Cast

Where to begin?

Hats off to Matt Damon. He's solidified himself as one of the best actors of all time after his performance. Whether through spoken word or his body language, his depiction of the flawed hero Odysseus brings the story to life. The themes of The Odyssey breathe through Matt's interpretation of the character. Whether wallowing in spiritual anguish and personal suffering or taking charge of his men both in Troy and across the Mediterranean, Odysseus' struggle rings loud through Damon.

Anne Hathaway gives the performance of a lifetime. Her Penelope feels tested - heavy eyes, a shattered temper, and a broken soul - yet her stoicism radiates through the screen. Every moment between her and Odysseus compared to time with her son, Telemachus, offers a stark contrast that extrapolates her pain.

Speaking of the King's son, I was skeptical of Tom Holland coming into this role. He's had flashes of strong acting chops previously, but he really maintained a strong performance throughout all of his screen time here. He put his doubters to shame, perfectly capturing Telemachus' growth from committing shortsighted immaturities to selflessly welcoming strangers. I hope he takes on more serious roles after this.

I could praise the entire cast; Robert Pattison as Antinous perfectly captures the essence of a sniveling bully, John Bernthal shows humility and embodies triumph through Menelaus, Sinon's fear and loyalty erupts through Elliot Page's delivery, and that's before mentioning Benny Safdie's aura-farming as Agamemnon.

Zendaya got roughly five minutes of screen time and minimal dialogue, and - for those who saw the film - THAT scene alone carried the most weight of the entire film. The priestess being used as a vehicle for godly disrespect and the consequences of it paints a powerful picture, and Zendaya's ability to convey those emotions is unlike anything I've seen before on screen.

Despite my admiration for these portrayals, there are two distinct roles - outside of Damon's - that elevated the movie to nearly the same level.

John Leguizamo's Eumaeus and Himesh Patel's Eurylochus are two wings of the same phoenix burning through the narrative. Eumaeus shows the honor and strength of Odysseus, while Himesh is a metaphor for the Greek king's carelessness of Zeus' rule - whether by action or inaction. Both possessed their characters and brought out the best and worst in our protagonist.

Source: Universal Pictures

Regret

Regret is the most glaring motif throughout The Odyssey. Damon actualizes the sorrow Odysseus holds; the betrayal of Zeus' laws, the innocents traumatized and dehumanized, the sacrifices of his men. Those same trials and tribulations are echoed throughout every step of his journey.

The Cyclops, the Laestrygonians, Circe, the doorstep of Hades, the Sirens, Scylla, Poseidon's rage storm, and Athena herself are all personifications of that detrimental feeling, and Damon's interaction with each is a knife to the heart.

Penelope's longing for her husband, Telemachus' search for purpose, Helen of Troy and Clytemnestra's shared loss, and Argos' lifetime of aching for his master. When the electric acting of Matt isn't on screen, you feel the shockwaves of his endeavors echoing through each characters' actions.

Score

Ludwig Göransson deserves his flowers. His musical expertise and the groundwork laid across other projects to get here has been incredible to witness. Journeying from lighthearted comedy We're the Millers, giving Wakanda its unique sound in Black Panther, flooding viewer's ears with hope and nostalgia in the first two Creed films, to generational blockbuster accompaniments like Oppenheimer, Sinners, and, now, The Odyssey.

The use of music to accentuate Odysseus' physical and emotional state sent ripples through my soul. A soundtrack so euphoric, I've had it on blast while writing this review. Ludwig put on an absolute clinic conjuring this magic. We also got a pleasantly surprising amount of mileage out of Travis Scott on screen. Nolan has a knack for finding talent.

Payoff

Payoff is tricky, whether positive or negative. Anyone can bring a character full circle, get from point A to B, or have them cross a creaky bridge from time to time, but to add undertones of guilt, the intoxicating hype of a comeback, and a lifetime of tragedy all into a roughly three hour telling is quite a feat. Nolan capitalizes on that and then some.

Without spoiling too much, but to use Inception-esque totems in The Odyssey as a plot device in various ways was a joy to behold. Promises are kept, but the agonizing path to get there makes it that much more impactful. Whether it's a war token, an Athena pin, or an escaping sun, these idealistic pillars keep the film grounded.

Separate from those thematic culminations, there is one that has stuck with me more than others.

"To burn the walls of Troy was to burn the world entire." - Odysseus

That sequence is the most real translation of society I've ever seen on screen. A group hellbent on rage, dismay, and vengeance brought hell and fire on the masses. Buildings toppled. Protectors slain. Idols decapitated. All Odysseus could do was watch. Just as we were beholden to the challenges he and his army endured, our tragedy of a man was reduced to a blip in time.

There is an additional layer that makes this even more significant. Our previous perspective was through Odysseus. A simple man who wanted to get home. Twenty years of long days, anxious weeks, and grueling months. A desire for safety and comfort, both a world away. A man's journey for love, shelter, and belonging all clouded in chaos.

Our new perspective is much graver. Uproar, turmoil, and death ride on the coattails of victory. A moment that shouts of triumph, but resonates far longer with insidiousness. A seemingly innocuous act of homecoming shrouded a terrifying act of destruction. The Fall of Troy was indeed the Fall of the World. Cities torn apart, the gods' wrath released upon his comrades, and the rats arrived to feast.

There's no secret that we face those same dilemmas in the modern world. Principles abandoned. Standards tarnished. Decency minimized.

We can do more than just watch.

There's a path forward out of the darkness. There's a means to an end. There's a chance for us to start anew and not fall into similar misgivings that Odysseus did.

The path forward is in humanity, something the sea people weaponized against their armors. Something taken for granted on a daily basis. Something true to us and each other.

Basic empathy. Collective understanding. Unique unity.

The payoff wasn't just for the movie. It was for the individual, the collective society of people and a genuine future for them.

Source: Universal Pictures

Verdict

This is Christopher Nolan's magnum opus. This is this stellar cast's classic. This is Ludwig Göransson's Symphony No. 5. Top to bottom, you could not devise this in a thousand lifetimes. A film that will go down in cinema history. A moving telling. A blockbuster. Perfection.

What's next:

This is your friendly reminder to go watch it again. Go see it in IMAX if you can. This movie is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and everyone should get to cherish it in real time.

As for me and the NFL world, I'll be bringing back positional rankings (and potentially my own Top 100), division preview podcasts, and more in the coming month or so.

Below are some of my favorite quotes and shots from The Odyssey. We'll see you back here soon, and until then, chase the escaping sun.