The Odyssey

Terrible day today so I’ll do a terrible review. It has a lot of things to like, and in particular (even though I couldn’t watch it on a good screen), it is visually incredible. All the effects were well done, as tends to be the usual with Nolan. I enjoyed the casting too, I think it was a great choice. Helen as a black woman was very visually striking in particular. Did not expect that Travis Scott would fit in that well— I was so immersed that I did not even realise it was him. I also liked how the story unfolded, and the veterans of the war of troy being the “people of the sea” was rather nice. Excellent score too.

In particular the anti-war themes, the duality shown with Zeus’s Law and how it played into Odysseus’s journey was wonderful. I found the death of his crew somewhat unjustified at times, but one can maybe understand it from their actions during the day they came to occupy troy. Agamemnon’s brief cameo—with the duality of the invincible king under his armour and a powerless man killed by his wife—was one of my favourite parts of the film.

However, there were things that make this far from my favourite Nolan film. While I did not mind the costumes and the casting choices (I think they made the movie better, not worse), the dialogue was at times rough. Dad, really? Come on, that just ruins the immersion, especially when the rest of the setting is portrayed in a more ancient manner. There is much to talk about how “in the face” the movie was too, it practically spells out all that it has to talk about. “Our age of bronze is collapsing” was so stupid, like why would you do such a self-reference. Other than that, the repeated flashback seemed a bit, off to me? Maybe better editing could’ve helped.

There are a bunch of things I wish were done better, it is a great narrative and its well told. The things that detract it are in hindsight much more minor, but they still end up souring things somewhat. At the end I enjoyed it, and found the last hour (up till the exile ship dialogue) incredibly gripping, so I can’t be too harsh on it. Would definitely recommend watching in a theatre if you can.