Review: The Odyssey (2026) by Christopher Nolan

   

    "What you most want, is what you most cant have. And what you most can't have, is what you already had, and lost." 

       - Odysseus

    Imagine surviving a decade long siege of the greatest city of the era, only to be by consumed by cyclopses, enthralled by sirens, and massacred by armoured giants and a terrifying sea monster? 

   And all because your leader, in a moment of egotistical folly, did something really stupid to jeopardize your return journey home? 

   Well, this taught me a harsh lesson: Always control one's ego and impulses, and it really pays to keep one's mouth shut. 

    Of course, there are other lessons to be learnt from Homer's classic, the Odyssey, but this one is perhaps the most important. 

    Matt Damon, gives a stellar performance as Odysseus, an old military veteran, haunted by regret and remorse for his actions in the Trojan War, whose brilliant plan of the Trojan Horse culiminated in the burning and sacking of Troy.  

   Whilst there are many modern elements in Nolan's adaptation, I'd argue Nolan largely stayed true to the source material, and special mention goes to Tom Holland as Telemachus. It is through Telemachus's search for his father, Odysseus, that the audience learns, from tales told to Telemachus from other individuals, the story of his father's sacking of Troy, and Odysseus's return journey back home. 

   Perhaps why the Odyssesy is such a classic, is because, at its very heart, it is an exploration of human nature, betrayal, and human failings. And Ann Hathaway has to deal with Odysseus's failings, as the strong queen Penelope, holding the fort as Odysseus is away for 2 decades. Truly what a sad state of affairs Ithaca has fallen into. All the military vets left for war long ago. The remaining men did not know how to string a reverse bow. It was not a matter of strength, but technique, and Odysseus, having returned, successfully strings the bow, and fires the arrow through the 12 axes, then proceeds to massacre all 108 suitors. What an iconic ending that stayed the same and lasted through the ages. 

   If you have the time, and you like ancient Greek epics, do take a dive into this 3 hr long masterpiece, and fall in love with a time and place very different from our 21st century world. And the scene with Odysseus's dog at the end? Broke my heart, and I cried a little. 

    9.5 out of 10. Highly recommended.