The Odyssey – Movie Reviews by Ry!

The Odyssey – A Journey of Self Reflection: The Heart of a Tale

The power of cinema is defined by many things.  From the sensation of the journey to the emotional pull of the characters, the path is vast in its own creative pursuit.  Even within the subjectivity, that innate grip will always lead to one thing; a fulfilling escape.  In this review, I look at the latest fantasy adventure story to hit the big screen.  In an adaptation of an iconic literary work, The Odyssey is much more than a quest back home … it is a masterpiece in storytelling.   

In a tale of unrelenting truths in the unexplainable, one man’s journey will show the raw meaning of what it means to be … home.  The nature of story is a compound of multiple layers that weaves together situations, purpose and characters.  From words on a page to its own visual escapes, the foundation of the tale is a poignant push into the thought of … what comes next.  The vicarious quality pulls at you, a grip that meanders through an escape that can become a believable thing.  With Christopher Nolan, he always brings this feeling to his films, and this one is no exception.  With this latest work of art, he shows the world what it means to be a true auteur:

The Journey

To look at any story, it becomes a poignant staple of defining, what the path is.  With this adaptation, it becomes a thread that builds up the adventure without sacrificing any detail of characterization.  As the film begins, it showcases two things: the struggle of a queen to maintain control over a kingdom without a king and the hardship of that same king’s journey back home after the Trojan War.  These paralleling stories weave emotional layers methodically, a back and forth (including flashbacks) that help build up interactions without false sensations.  The interactions become unbridled as you feel the drama through its raw complexion, breaking through the fantastical with a grounded authenticity.  This is done well through a slow burn directive and amazing acting from its lead characters: Odysseus (Matt Damon), Penelope (Anne Hathaway) and Telemachus (Tom Holland), as well as the rest of the secondary cast (you can view the list on the film’s IMDb page – link).  Seeing their struggles becomes a push and pull in the ideals of purpose and worth, gripping you to the harsh realities of the moment.  You realize that the quest moves beyond the simplistic notion of an adventure, leading into a deeper immersion of the tale.

The Immersion

From characterization to the journey, what brings everything together is the grounded aspect of feeling the moment.  The details compounded in these layers create a place that allows Nolan’s adaptation to transform from its fantastical roots into a believable tale.  This leads to an organic threading that defines each moment: the caution of each island encountered (by Odysseus and his men), the ramification of war (across the Greek World) and the emotional struggles of a kingdom without a king (through Penelope’s eyes).  It is a weaving fabric of emotions and engagement that rises above clichés, creating a place where the unexplained is intentional and the sowing of motive creates a place where morality is nothing more than personal reverie.  Watching this take root allows each character to face a mirror of their own guise.  It is the thematic intertwining in the world building, one that raises the foundation of the adventure to a place where the audience feels true fulfillment in the third act.

The Emotional Payoff

From each emotional moment to the unorthodox situations that happen, it all leads to a third act that catalyzes the outcome of choice and consequence.  The torments come into full view, bringing ambition, cause and purpose through scenes of action and drama that are rooted in human worth.  As everything culminates in one complexion, it becomes a cathartic finale that is not defined by any convenient plot device or last second save, but a fulfillment of great storytelling.

No matter if you are a fan of Nolan or adventure style films, The Odyssey is simply … a masterpiece.  Go see it, you will not be disappointed.

Full Score – 5 out of 5 (Legendary)