Returning home and reversing the wheel of time are old features of director Christopher Nolan's films. In his famous film 'Interstellar', the astronauts lose almost 23 years in space travel. Incidentally, in Homer's historical epic 'The Odyssey', Odysseus also spends almost the same amount of time away from home, fighting the Trojan War for a decade and trying to return to his home state of Ithaca for the next decade.

So, while remaining completely faithful to the ancient epic, 'The Odyssey' feels exactly like Nolan's films due to its 'non-linear' storytelling style. The writing style of this epic, set in the time frame of the seventh or eighth century BC, is complex in itself. However, even though it is based on the same epic, no one should question the director of 'The Odyssey'. Because it is a brilliant and vibrant blend of ancient storytelling and the grandeur of modern IMAX technology.

Being the story of a character who annoys even the gods with his cleverness, ‘The Odyssey’ feels like a complement or a kind of sequel to Nolan’s previous film ‘Oppenheimer’. The main character Odysseus (Matt Damon, who gave the best role of his life) is burning with self-blame and guilt due to the violence and destruction created after destroying the city of Troy.

It is natural that whenever any new film by Nolan comes out, it is widely discussed, discussed and praised as a ‘masterpiece’. However, this film, which was shot entirely with an IMAX camera for the first time by Nolan, does not compromise on grandeur, but it does a surprisingly good job as a simple human-centered story.

This is a story about a journey—and as you may have heard, the journey is more important than the destination. The journey in the film feels a bit cumbersome at times, and given Nolan’s own style and the historical context of the story, it can feel a bit lacking in novelty. Nolan has already made the film ‘Inception’, which is based on the story of a man who is lost in a world of illusion and tries to reach his family. It is natural to face such challenges when making a film based on ancient texts.

However, ‘The Odyssey’ always keeps the audience hooked and is also a thrilling adventure story. At the very least, it is the best big screen adaptation of one of the oldest stories in literature to date—which is a huge achievement for an ambitious director like Nolan.

Balance of character and acting

Odysseus only makes an appearance in Homer's epic in Book 5, but Nolan (who also wrote the film's screenplay) begins the story in Odysseus' home kingdom of Ithaca. Where a mob of suitors has invaded Odysseus's wife, Penelope (Anne Hathaway), and they are holding a feast in her house. Robert Pattinson gives a despicable but lively performance as Antinous, the leader of the suitors. Pattinson, who looks a bit different from his other films, looks very comfortable in this role.

Penelope and Odysseus' young son Telemachus (Tom Holland) decide to set out in search of their missing father. Meanwhile, we meet Odysseus, who has aged and has a white beard since the fall of Troy. The scene where Agamemnon forces him into battle is shown in flashback. Benny Safdie, playing Agamemnon, looks as intimidating as Star Wars’ Darth Vader, but the giant helmet on his head draws more attention.

The scene of Odysseus’s long ship rocking on the Mediterranean coast in the film also looks enticing. Nolan and cinematographer Hoyt van Hoytema’s work is as excellent in the stormy seas and flooding of magical islands in ‘The Odyssey’ as in the battle with nature and disaster in ‘Dunkirk’.

The first line of Homer’s poem (according to Emily Wilson’s translation, which Nolan followed) introduces Odysseus as ‘a complex man’. James Joyce (whose novel Ulysses was based on this epic poem) once said, ‘Hamlet is only a son, but Odysseus is at once a father, a husband, a lover, and a warrior. In short, he is an ordinary man, but a very clever one. And Matt Damon has done justice to this multifaceted mythological hero with great depth.’

We first meet Odysseus as a soldier who, along with his co-commander Eurylochus (Himes Patel), leads his ships south from Agamemnon’s fleet. Their journey is divided into a series of adventures; an encounter in a cave with the one-eyed Cyclops; an attack on a pine forest by man-eating monsters. The meal with the witch Circe (Samantha Morton) and the seven years Odysseus spends with the sea nymph Calypso (Charlize Theron).

You might think that ‘The Odyssey’ is just a collection of different events. But the scenes themselves are amazing. It also includes the story of the Trojan Horse, which is only briefly mentioned in the original poem, but is the main attraction of the film here. It is clear that the scene from the Trojan Horse buried in the sand to the burning city of Troy has been playing in Nolan’s mind for years, since he started making the film ‘Troy’ almost two decades ago.

Each stop on Odysseus’ journey has given Nolan a mythological playground, where he has created scenes that feel like horror genres. I was drawn to the film's most imaginative scenes, such as the scene where a giant hand suddenly emerges from the darkness and the souls of Odysseus' dead soldiers awaken from the black mud of Hades.

Current relevance

The film is introduced as a "time of apparent magic." Nolan wisely keeps the gods behind the scenes. Their power is real, but apart from Zendaya's Athena, who appears as Odysseus' advisor, no other gods appear on screen.

This choice brings Nolan's Odyssey and its themes of sacrifice, loyalty, and honor closer to reality. Nolan's decision to cast actors from diverse backgrounds in the film is commendable. This is a common human tale that has been passed down through centuries of singers and storytellers. Casting Lupita Nyong'o as Helen of Troy not only does justice to the myth, it also gives the film a modern feel.

Seeing actors like Elliot Page (unforgettable as a dead soldier), John Leguizamo, and Matt Damon in this ancient setting is another big reason to watch this film. If there's no modern-day element to it, what's the point of retelling the story? After all, there weren't even cameras in 700 BC.

Nolan's The Odyssey is nearly three hours long, but it never bores the audience. This clash between past and present drives the film along with Odysseus's arduous journey. The film also examines gender roles while maintaining traditional masculinity.

The poem's ending, which involves mass murder (which is a bit complicated), is presented in a more acceptable action-movie style. But here lies the real essence of ‘The Odyssey’. Odysseus’ quest to forget his mistakes and stick to his commitments feels just as vivid today. Nolan, one might say, has returned to his own home (with great rhythm).