What’s it about?

After masterminding the victory over the Trojans, Odysseus (Matt Damon) and his crew struggle to make their way home to Ithaca, where his wife Penelope (Anne Hathaway) and son Telemachus (Tom Holland) are doing their best to fend off the abhorrent suitors looking to seize Ithaca’s throne.

What’d we think?

The Odyssey is a true epic. A grand, sprawling narrative that still manages to keep its eye on the prize, maintaining a tight focus on the leads and never losing sight of the emotional stakes. This is Christopher Nolan in his comfort zone, and it shows.

For a story that’s as well-known as it is lengthy, it’s incredible how much of the original narrative has been kept intact. There are a few minor structural changes that streamline the narrative, but these are hardly objectionable and provide an excellent framing device that manages to avoid any confusion. The leads are all at the top of their game, but it’s the immensely talented supporting cast that provides the story with an extra bump – there are no small parts here, and everyone gets their time to shine.

Much has been written about the film being shot entirely in IMAX 70mm, and with good reason – The Odyssey is a feast for the senses. The visuals will be warm and sumptuous, then stark and striking, but always gorgeous. It’s also one of the most sonically impressive movies I’ve seen in a while; the sound design is top-notch, and Ludwig Göransson’s score is a beautiful and refreshingly non-traditional composition of ancient instruments, moody synths, and haunting solo vocals. From a technical perspective, the film is a marvel.

It’s a good movie, but the conclusion pulls back the curtain to reveal what the film has been establishing the whole time, elevating it to a great movie. It may not be an original story, but Nolan has pulled a rabbit out of his hat and managed to put a fresh spin on a 2800-year-old tale, and made one of the best movies in recent memory.