Review: The Odyssey

The Odyssey poses a question about fate and free will, but did we ever have any choice in going to see it? Between the director's reputation, months of anticipation, and the promise of another cinematic spectacle, watching the film almost feels like destiny itself.

Warning: This review contains spoilers

Words: Tilly Wolstenhome

Images: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

The Odyssey is Christopher Nolan's newest film, which premiered on July 17th. Running at 172 minutes and produced alongside his wife through their production company, Syncopy Inc. It tells the story of an ancient Greek poem written by Homer, chronicling the adventures of Odysseus as he battles to return home to Ithaca after the decade-long siege of the Trojan War. Nolan presents Odysseus’s quest to his audience in a non-linear narrative. By doing this, the viewer is thrown into the emotional depth of the character's death-defying journey. Particularly, the amnesia that the king of Ithica faces. The film showcases a complex framework, with multiple timelines and thematic layers. This approach to storytelling allows the traditional story to be seen in a fresh light and offers up a new perspective on the themes of survival.

It includes a star-studded cast consisting of Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, Elliot Page, Lupita Nyong’o and many more A-listers. Even if you don’t know much about Nolan’s work, you’ll know he likes to collaborate with the same actors, crew and composers across his films time and time again. Working with the same people ensures that Nolan keeps the aesthetic quality and reputation he has built over his career. The performances Nolan elicited made me hold my breath; they were so captivating. Damon instilled in the audience a tale of memory and introspection and hit all the emotional beats alongside his co-stars. Holland displayed a great fragility as a fatherless boy in the dark before taking to the sea and returning as a stronger, mature man. The moment he realised Odysseus was his father was emotionally rich. But the saddest reunion of all was between Odysseus and his beloved hunting dog, who waited 20 years for his return and let go once his dream came true. Hathaway exuded a quiet elegance while Queen Penelope’s façade and hope were crumbling. Pattinson played cowardice to perfection, and fresh off watching his performance in The Drama made me want to punch him in the face (a compliment). Zendaya’s cameo as Athena was brilliant regardless of length, and Elliot Page played a beautiful rendition of the bravest young man Odysseus ever met, Sinon.

Putting aside the casting choices, was the movie good? My answer is yes. 

Power, sacrifice, commitment and love are four words to describe this film. Filmed in six countries from February to August 2025 utilising real-world locations without a heavy reliance on digital environments. The locations include Greece, Italy, Morocco, Scotland, Western Sahara, Iceland and Malta. The opening to this drama is powerful, employing sharp sound in a J-cut before viewers see the invocation to the muses. Nolan immediately situates us in the aftermath of the Trojan War to emphasise the unpredictable world of the Greek tragedy with intercuts of the sea, monsters and divine interventions that the characters will encounter along the journey. Hoyte van Hoytema’s cinematography was exquisite and on par with Nolan’s other work. I went into the screening with the barest of knowledge of Homer's epic poem, and I still thoroughly enjoyed it; I believe even if you’ve never heard of The Odyssey, you’ll be enthralled.

There were more than a few brilliant details that bewitched me, as if Circe herself had cast the spell. Anne Hathaway plays Queen Penelope, Odysseus’s wife; however, her name isn’t said at all until Odysseus himself remembers her.

The reveal that Athena wasn’t a goddess, but a representation of Odysseus’ guilt, was an incredible detail, and in that moment the film became a work of genius. She was just an innocent girl who was a casualty of war. The fact that the rumours of the murderous ‘sea people’ that had the citizens of Ithaca on edge turned out to be Odysseus’ men having ravaged their way through numerous islands on their way back home. When Damon’s character is sitting on the steps talking to Penelope, the score that is playing is the very same score that plays during the siren scene. Lupita Nyong’o plays Helen of Troy, the face that launched a thousand ships, and the reveal of her scar made my gut twist; it was so effective. And her begging Telemachus to apologise to his mother was a heartbreaking scene, truly solidifying that most women in this film didn’t deserve any of it. Yet what really struck me was the soundtrack that spurred on every moment and simultaneously held you there.

Nolan worked with Ludwig Göransson, a Swedish composer, and the two have established a successful partnership. The Odyssey marks their third collaboration following Oppenheimer and Tenet. Göransson used authentic Greek instruments, and he did a lot of research on what instruments would have been available at that period. I had no expectations for the theme entering this viewing experience; nonetheless, I can safely say I was pleasantly surprised. The music was atmospheric and ambient. It was all unique. Nolan and Göransson wanted the music to feel like a recognisable world, even though the setting was ancient Greece. The soundtrack was transformative, and I believe Göransson is responsible for the film's immersive nature.

While watching Nolan’s newest project, I was struck by the agony it portrays through tragedy and by how it kept everyone in the theatre on the edge of their seats. The most anticipated film of the year serves as a wonderful, weighty reminder that I will never set foot on a boat and that my fear of the ocean is completely justified. At the end of the day, The Odyssey is a brilliant quest for home, and once it starts, it never loses momentum. It’s a must-watch that is absolutely worth the hype.