RE:VIEW ~ “The Odyssey” (2026)
Saying anything about this right after having returned from the movie theatre risks overlooking something important. Given the epic scale of this, however, it’s impossible to not overlook something in the vast sprawling genius of this picture.
Avoiding spoilers seems unnecessary for a three-millennium-old tale reportedly crafted by Homer. I’m going to avoid committing them all the same.
Firstly, the film is an incredible ride. IMDb says that the running time is ten minutes under three hours, but it didn’t feel like that to me. The screenplay by Sir Christopher Nolan tells the tale from two perspectives, with both of them containing flash-backs for characters’ versions of what happened before. This sounds confusing, in theory, but isn’t at all when watching; mostly because of voice over and clarity of narrative. This also results in things never feeling bogged down, even when dealing with the minutia of the Royal Court of Ithaca.
The acting is also clear and fantastic. Performances here range from the depths of despair and mourning for those lost, to the purest of joy and everything in between. There isn’t a single person whose work can be seen as anything less than incredible, so I won’t even try to single out anyone in this ensemble piece.
The look of the film is incredible, with everything feeling perfect for the period as well as within our ability to experience. Armour is worn by massive use, weapons are dirty, wooden boats are old but maintained.
The greatest achievement here is the story. Its clarity and vibrancy is indescribable. Epic poems of any culture tend to be a little twisty, a little dated, and a little boring. None of those things happen here. I have never seen Greek legend this electrifying and visceral. If Homer had lived today, he would be writing this sort of action drama.
One last thing: I saw it as a Tuesday matinée in a theatre so empty there were more people in the boat than in the room with me. I recommend seeing this on the biggest damned screen you can locate and/or afford. I saw it in 70mm and am pleased I did, but if you can see it in an IMAX theatre, do so. If all that’s available to you is a 70mm screen, so be it. If the only thing you can find is a regular screen, then go there. Seeing this at home — even on some massive 4K flatscreen — isn’t going to be the same at all.
Mandatory viewing. This is an instant piece of classic cinema.
★★★★★