The Odyssey was screened for the junket press last week, but social media’s first reactions were locked under a strict embargo—until now. So, what’s the verdict on Christopher Nolan’s latest epic? As expected, the praise is stellar, with early viewers hailing it as the director’s grandest achievement in both narrative scale and production value.
The Odyssey First Reactions
Perri Nemiroff said, “THE ODYSSEY is a filmmaking feast. A grand and gripping rendition of Homer’s epic, and one that feels uniquely Christopher Nolan. It’s sincerely hard to imagine any other filmmaker on the planet being able to bring that source material to screen with this much scale, scope and heart.“
Matt Neglia said, “Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of THE ODYSSEY is as epic as movies get with some of the most breathtaking set pieces he’s ever attempted. A colossal achievement of scale, even by Nolan’s standards, its commitment to capturing as much as possible in-camera using new IMAX cameras is a staggering technical feat worthy of this sprawling yet intimate story of one man’s journey to return home, the burden and consequences of leadership, and the eternal struggle between mortals and gods… I grew up loving grand, sword and action dramas such as “Gladiator,” “Braveheart,” “The Last Samurai,” and yes, even “Troy.” I’m beyond thrilled to say Nolan’s ambitious dissection of myth and legend looms large over them all. Whether you experience it in IMAX or a standard theater, this is the kind of filmmaking and storytelling that we rarely see anymore and deserves to be honored.“
Andrew J. Salazar added, “THE ODYSSEY is a staggering achievement. It boasts spectacular & even terrifying set pieces that feel like Christopher Nolan fully embracing the horrors of Greek mythology. Yet, how he tastefully recontextualizes the story for the modern day is what has kept my head buzzing.“
Steven Weintraub said, “Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ is *incredible*. I’ve been lucky enough to watch it twice and it gets better on the second viewing. I’m really blown away by this film. Everything from the performances to the way Nolan embraces the supernatural is just perfect. If you can, SEE IT IN IMAX 70mm. It’s a jaw dropping experience. It’ll be great wherever you see it, but IMAX 70mm is the best option.“
Phil de Semlyen said, “Believe the hype(rbole): The Odyssey is that film. Dense but accessible, packed with career-best work from the stacked cast – Samantha Morton is extraordinary – it’s a dizzying mix of craft and spectacle that’s built to last.“
David Ehrlich said, “The Odyssey: a surprisingly natural (and less despairing) Oppenheimer follow-up about a man haunted by defying the gods & dooming civilization – this one fights to avenge his own hubris. IMAX obviously immense. too clunky to be S-tier Nolan, but the last act rewards the journey.“
Erik Davis said, “Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is an absolute triumph and a crowning cinematic achievement from one of the great filmmakers of our time. It feels like everything Nolan has been working toward with IMAX has culminated here. The production design is incredible, the action is breathtaking, and the scale is unlike anything he’s done before. What really surprised me is how much he embraces horror. Some of the film’s biggest moments are genuinely unsettling, adding a whole new dimension to his filmmaking while never losing sight of the humanity at the story’s core. The cast is stacked, and somehow everyone still gets a chance to shine. Anne Hathaway is incredible, Matt Damon is excellent, and Tom Holland continues to prove he can do just about anything. But Robert Pattinson absolutely stole the show for me. He’s so conniving, manipulative and endlessly entertaining to watch. Pattinson leans all the way into the character’s villainy, and it results in one of my favorite performances of his. Look, it’s the must-see cinematic event of the summer — and quite possibly the year. I can’t wait to watch it again.“
Again, as we know, these types of first reactions tend to be overly positive, but I’m definitely pumped to hear more about this one. Many who saw the film highlighted its horror elements, which intrigue me. I’m foreseeing the Polyphemus sequence being absolutely terrifying.
There’s definitely been some backlash on social media against the film’s casting choices, but it remains to be seen whether any of it will actually hurt the film when it’s released.
What We Know
The film stars Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal, Robert Pattinson, Mia Goth, Zendaya, Elliot Page, John Leguizamo, Samantha Morton, Ryan Hurst, Logan Marshall-Green, Lupita Nyong’o, Josh Stewart, Benny Safdie, Corey Hawkins, and Elyes Gabel. It runs 172 minutes, which may seem long but is actually 8 minutes shorter than Oppenheimer. While many of Nolan’s previous films had long sequences shot in 70mm IMAX (it’s become his trademark), The Odyssey has become the first film shot entirely in that format.
Holland has teased that the film is a masterpiece. “I can tell you that it is an absolute masterpiece, and I’m taking myself out of that equation,” he said. “Chris Nolan’s movie is fantastic. It’s unlike anything that I’ve ever seen before. I think when I saw the movie, I found myself asking a question that I haven’t asked about a movie for a long time, which is, ‘How did you do that?’” Holland was so eager to take part in the movie that he contacted Sony Pictures to see if they could push back production on Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
The Odyssey is based on an ancient Greek poem by Homer that tells the tale of Odysseus, King of Ithaca, and his journey home after the ten-year Trojan War. The trip was perilous, including encounters with the Cyclops Polyphemus, the Sirens, and the witch-goddess Circe. At home, Odysseus is presumed dead, and his wife Penelope and son Telemachus must contend with groups of unruly suitors who each want Penelope’s hand in marriage to control the kingdom.
The film is set to be released in theaters on July 17.
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