Welcome to the first edition of She Reads movie reviews in partnership with The Reel Obsessed. We’re Abby and Kelcy, co-creators of The Reel Obsessed, and we’re excited to bring our film expertise and fandom to the She Reads and She Watches community. We had the opportunity to watch The Odyssey in 70mm IMAX (you’ll see why that’s important below) and we have so many thoughts to share about this history-making film. It has a run-time of 172 minutes and features a notable ensemble cast. Let’s dive in!

Movie Title:

The Odyssey

Genre: 

Action/Fantasy

Synopsis:

In a time of magic…Odysseus (Matt Damon) is the King of Ithaca, a prosperous Greek island. After the Trojan War begins, he sets off with his men to fight for Greece. His strategy during war makes him a legend, hailed as the mastermind behind the Trojan Horse trick that eventually ended the war. The majority of this story takes place after the war in which we follow his long and perilous journey back home to reclaim his kingdom and reunite with his wife, Penelope (Anne Hathaway), and son, Telemachaues (Tom Holland). This journey ends up taking over 20 years and features interactions with Gods who seem unwilling to let him defy his fate. A few of the trials he faces on his journey include: battling a cyclops, a visit to Hades, attempting to evade the sirens’ song, storms from Poseidon, the God of the Sea himself, and more.

Meanwhile back in Ithaca, over 100 suitors have taken residence in the royal estate, eating the food and drinking their wine and most ardently, pressuring Penelope to marry one of them. With fewer and fewer loyal subjects, the royal family is on the brink of a takeover thanks to Antinous (Robert Pattinson). This clever suitor is closing in on making Ithaca—and Penelope—his.

With the threat of the suitors escalating, Telemachaues goes on his own journey to find more information about the father he never knew and hopes to figure out what happened to him.  Along his way, he learns more about his father through King Menelaus (Jon Bernthal) and Helen of Troy (Lupita Nyong’o). He hopes to return home so he may rightfully take the throne before someone else does.

Ultimately, the multiple timelines and stories come together in an explosive ending where sins are confronted, enemies are battled, and a family fights to be reunited.

The Odyssey is written and directed by Christopher Nolan, known for The Dark Knight, Inception, Interstellar, and Oppenheimer.

Bookish Blurb:

This film adaptation is based on Homer’s The Odyssey translated by Emily Wilson released in 2017.

Film Facts:

This is the first feature film to be shot entirely on an IMAX camera! Together, Christopher Nolan and IMAX created a new, next-generation 70mm film camera called the Keighley. This camera is 50% quieter than legacy IMAX cameras and carbon-fiber built, making it easier to record dialogue and lighter to move around. Check out the innovative camera setup.

The Odyssey is Christopher Nolan’s third collaboration with actors Matt Damon and Anne Hathaway, as well as composer Ludwig Göransson. It is also his fifth collaboration with cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema.

Who is The Odyssey for?

To start, The Odyssey is for fans of Greek Mythology and the poem itself. Though neither of us have read the epic poem in full, fans of this classic should most definitely watch this movie to see how it compares. Additionally, if you haven’t read this classic (or excerpts from it in high school English class!), you will be able to follow the story no problem.

No surprise here, but this movie is also for Christopher Nolan fans. If you enjoyed any of Nolan’s other works like The Dark Knight or Oppenheimer, this is a must-watch. His time-bending and epic styling comes through ten-fold in The Odyssey.

Trust us when we say, fans of the horror genre will appreciate this film as well!

Abby’s Take

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Character to obsess over:

I have two! First, King Menelaus, played by Jon Bernthal, known for his roles in The Punisher and The Accountant. I was absolutely captivated by this performance. Menelaus was a character that I was uneasy over…is he good? Is he bad? A hero? An enemy? He left me unsure and I enjoyed that. Wouldn’t any strategic king want to keep you on your toes? This performance was so different from other roles I’ve seen Bernthal play. He is a true professional. Next, Athena played by Zendaya, known for Euphoria and Marvel’s Spider-Man (and for being my personal style icon; the press tour outfits alone deserve their own kudos for promoting this movie). Athena doesn’t have a lot of screen time but when she is on screen, she’s mysterious, compelling, sad, and wise all at the same time. Especially as you learn more about Odysesseus’s personal backstory, her role and the way she’s portrayed makes a lot of sense.

Abby’s Review:

A true work of art and visual feast! This is a creative and artistic adaptation featuring Nolan’s signature elements: multiple timelines, twists, emotional performances and a big payoff ending. This is not your casual watch; this is a movie experience meant to capture your full attention. The long run time may deter people, and I completely understand wanting to wait until you can pause it and watch from the comfort of your own home. Though, I strongly recommend viewing it in a theater to experience the full effect.

One scene in particular felt like I was watching a body horror movie. I cannot wait for audiences to see that one. When you see it, you’ll know…and possibly be scarred for life like me. The mythical creatures and characters show up on screen together so well. It felt like it could be real.

Powerful, standout performances from Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Himesh Patel and Jon Bernthal. Robert Pattinson’s portrayal of Antinous was also a stand-out. He was pompous, offputting, and so realistic. Though Tom Holland did a solid job, I could only see Peter Parker in the first few scenes with his character. Gradually, his character developed and I eventually could see Telemachaues on screen.

This is a movie that takes itself very seriously, but it’s gratifying to watch a film with so much thought behind it. I smiled, I gasped, I clapped, I teared up. It’s an emotional ride that I cannot wait to experience again. It sounds dramatic, but this was a movie experience I’ll remember for the rest of my life.

Kelcy’s Take

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Character to obsess over:

I also have two: Odysseus & Eumaeus. Matt Damon truly blew me away as Odysseus. He delivers what is truly my favorite acting performance of ALL TIME. As our hero and protagonist, this character is extremely layered– and I am bought into his journey from start to finish. John Leguizamo is the brilliant actor behind Eumaeus. His character serves as a throughline of loyalty throughout this story, and Leguizamo’s performance brought me to tears. I’m calling it right now… Matt Damon for Best Actor in a Leading Role and John Leguizamo for Best Actor in a Supporting Role!

Kelcy’s Review:

Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is transcendent. It’s breathtakingly beautiful, utterly terrifying, and exists in a category all its own.

Matt Damon delivers what is not only a career-defining performance, but the best performance I have EVER seen. His Odysseus is heroic, vulnerable, and deeply flawed (which I love!) Anne Hathaway is a powerhouse as Penelope, bringing extraordinary strength and emotional depth to every scene, while Robert Pattinson feels as though he was born to play Antinous.

Every time I think Ludwig Göransson has composed the most epic score imaginable, he somehow surpasses himself again. The music is so profound and emotionally overwhelming in a way that is necessary for a film at this scale. Hoyte van Hoytema’s cinematography is nothing short of astonishing. The precision of the focus control and camera movement, all while capturing a story of this scale entirely on IMAX 70mm film, is a technical feat that deserves every award possible!

The Odyssey isn’t simply another Christopher Nolan masterpiece. It is an epic in every sense of the word and fully deserving of its place as the first feature film shot entirely on 70mm IMAX. It’s a monumental achievement in filmmaking that reminds us exactly why movies (and experiencing them together) matter.

The Reel Obsessed Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

There’s no doubt The Odyssey is a feat in film-making and poised to make some waves (yes, pun intended) at the box office. We want to hear from you! What did you think of The Odyssey? Especially for those of you who have read the epic poem. Make sure to follow and comment on @shereadsdotcom and @thereelobsessed accounts on Instagram to let us know. See you at the movies!