I was fortunate to be at the world premier of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey a few days ago. I was asked to hold reviews until the movie releases but allowed to post reactions so will try to tread that line.
The topline: this will be the movie of the year, will leave a deep impact on any viewer and will go down as one of the great epic movies made. If Nolan doesn’t win Best Director for this, we riot.
I’ve tried to build a habit in recent years of trying to resist reading online chatter going into any movie. There are many forces online that want to cast every movie into their pet topic and I find that deeply reduces the immersion and experience from watching a piece of cinema for the first time. In other words, ignore the chatter about this movie and just go to the closest IMAX theater and watch it and you will be moved.
Without spoiling, a few thoughts
a) Nolan’s adaptation is deft, modern and finds a way to honor the original (something my wife who is a true fan of the Odyssey deeply cared about) while also delivering a movie that feels epic and modern.
b) Expect multiple Oscar nominations and I would be shocked if Matt Damon and Robert Pattinson and Anne Hathaway don’t pick up nominations. However, the heart of the movie for me is Tom Holland. His portrayal of Telemachus and the father-son bond in absentia is the beating heart. In the hands of many other actors, this could have been an annoying teenager B-plot where we just wait to see Matt Damon deal with monsters but with Holland, it really comes alive.
c) I’m in awe of the craft and effort required to deliver something like this to the screen. The level of work required to shoot in these places or make this happen makes me both proud that we can still accomplish things of this nature and mildly jealous. I got to see the cast interviews during the premier and almost all had the view “This was something very special we got to be a part of”
d) Nolan’s powers are in full display here but if I had to point out two aspects it would be the use of sound interleaved with what you see visually. The very first sequence opens up to a very smart use of Ludwig Göransson’s work interleaved with editing. The other power of his is to use some very smart fast paced editing and sound to propel you during exposition.
Finally, when you watch any major movie, you interpret it through where you are in your life at that moment. For me, it is hard to see this movie and not see this as a journey of a father and also of someone dealing with a changing civilization (won’t spoil more here).
Go watch this movie opening weekend.