The Odyssey
Reviewed by Eccy, Joe, Luke, Epicz and Alex Kestis
"Not even the gods can prepare you for this film" -Eccy
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey was one of my most anticipated films of the year, and not even the gods could have prepared me for what I experienced. A groundbreaking achievement in filmmaking, shot entirely on IMAX cameras, it delivers a cinematic spectacle that left me completely speechless.
I had the honour of attending the world premiere of The Odyssey in London, which was an unforgettable experience in itself. Growing up with Christopher Nolan’s films as a cornerstone of my love for cinema, being able to witness this film for the first time on such a stage is something I’ll never forget.
First, I’d love to talk about the film’s sound design and score, both of which played a huge role in completely immersing me in Odysseus journey. Richard King, Nolan’s longtime collaborator, returns for his ninth film with the director after also working on the Dune films. The way the sound design brings the crashing ocean, thunderous action sequences, and horrifying encounters to life genuinely made me feel as though I was there. My favourite moment comes from something so deceptively simple: the unmistakable strum of Odysseus’ bow as he returns to Ithaca. It’s a sound that carries incredible emotional weight and felt as if I was struck by the bow itself.
Ludwig Göransson’s score is equally breathtaking. By weaving period inspired instrumentation throughout the film, he creates music that feels both timeless and deeply connected to the world of Greek mythology. With another extraordinary score, he further cements himself as one of the greatest living composers working in film today.
The cast deserves enormous praise. From the inspired casting of Elliot Page as Sinon, becoming absurdly one of the film’s most talked about creative decisions, to outstanding performances from Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Samantha Morton, and John Leguizamo, the ensemble consistently delivers. However, a standout for me is Robert Pattinson. Continuing one of the finest acting runs of any modern actor, he completely embodies Antinous, creating a villain who is both intimidating and deeply cowardly.
Even with all that praise, I still haven’t said enough about Tom Holland and Anne Hathaway. They were undoubtedly my favourite performances in the film, bringing incredible integrity, vulnerability, and emotional depth to their roles. Holland, in particular, continues to prove he’s capable of far more than blockbuster leading man roles, and I sincerely hope this encourages him to pursue even bolder dramatic performances in the future.
The hardest part of talking about The Odyssey is choosing a favourite sequence. Whether it’s the terrifying encounters with the Cyclops, Circe, the Sirens, the deadly whirlpool, or the Laestrygonians, every set piece is unforgettable. Nolan ventures further into horror than we’ve ever really seen from him before, and these moments, experienced on an IMAX screen, rank among the most memorable cinematic sequences I’ve ever witnessed. The Cyclops sequence, in particular, is astonishing. The haunting cries of terrified soldiers, the deafening crunch of bone, and the sheer scale of the towering creature create a level of tension that’s almost unbearable.
I could spend hours talking about Christopher Nolan’s direction and Hoyte van Hoytema’s breathtaking cinematography, but I’ll save that for our full podcast episode on The Odyssey. What I will say is this, The Odyssey is the greatest cinema experience I’ve ever had the privilege of being part of. Its climactic final 20 to 30 minutes completely overwhelmed me. From the resonating strum of a bow that sent shivers down my spine to the heartbreaking loss of a companion that brought tears to my eyes, every moment felt monumental.
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is, without a doubt, the film of the year. An epic in every sense of the word, it’s a cinematic achievement that simply has to be experienced on the biggest screen possible.
Review by Eccy
“The Greatest achievement in filmmaking history.” -Joe
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey doesn’t just live up to the Legend of Homer’s story, It defies the gods. A mythic epic that represents the culmination of 30 years of continuous evolution and is quite possibly the greatest achievement in filmmaking history.
Last night, I witnessed The Odyssey in 70mm at the BFI IMAX, and I can honestly say it was the single greatest cinema experience of my life. The scale is seismic, the performances are career defining, and the sheer disbelief I found myself in while trying to comprehend how what I was watching had been realised and achieved was overwhelming. For hours afterwards, I struggled to string a sentence together.
The sheer ambition and colossal scale of the most breathtaking set pieces Nolan has ever created are astonishing. His ability to balance that scale while also telling the intimate and delicate story of one man’s journey home and the heavy burden of sacrifice and leadership is remarkable. Every element is perfect, from the set pieces to the casting, with Elliot Page’s performance as Sinon being a particular standout.
Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Matt Damon, Himesh Patel, and John Leguizamo deliver the best performances of their careers. Damon commands the screen, capturing Odysseus’ complex emotions and intelligence while also portraying him as a force to be reckoned with. Anne Hathaway gives the best supporting performance of the year. Every second she is on screen is mesmerising, particularly a sequence between Penelope and Odysseus which, when you consider that the new IMAX camera developed specifically for this epic can only record three minutes of footage at a time, is simply unbelievable. Tom Holland continues to prove he can do absolutely everything. He once again shows why he is a true leading man, and this performance elevates him into the very highest tier of actors.
Ludwig Göransson’s score is one of the most unique I have heard in a long time. Its blend of classical and modern influences is stunning, with the ability to draw you in before delivering an emotional blow that stays with you.
Between Oppenheimer and The Odyssey, you will struggle to find other films where the sound design during tense sequences hits harder. The scene with the Cyclops in particular is bone chilling. The way my entire body shivered is something I am not sure I have ever experienced before in front of the big screen.
This adaptation of myth and legend is the perfect blend. It remains honest and faithful to the source material while also making it accessible to a modern audience, all while showcasing every skill in Nolan’s seemingly endless arsenal. This is a film that demands to be seen on the biggest screen possible. If you have the chance to see it in 70mm, do it. If not, travel to an IMAX if you can. I promise you, this film demands it. The filmmaking and storytelling on display are among the very best I have ever seen, and I cannot wait to see what Sir Christopher Nolan does next.
Review by Joe
“A monumental cinematic achievement that left me speechless” - Luke
Christopher Nolan has done it again.
The Odyssey isn’t just another blockbuster it’s a monumental cinematic achievement and one of the boldest films ever made. As the first feature to be shot entirely with IMAX cameras, it already had history on its side, but after experiencing it in 70mm IMAX at the BFI, I can confidently say believe the hype. This is exactly how cinema was meant to be experienced.
The sheer scale of the film is breathtaking. There were countless moments where I found myself sitting in complete awe, wondering how Nolan had managed to bring something this ambitious to life. It’s grand, epic, and visually staggering in every sense of the word, and it may well be the greatest achievement of his remarkable career.
While the opening 40 minutes take their time establishing the world, they serve as the foundation for an extraordinary journey that unfolds over the next two hours. Nolan’s signature non linear storytelling works beautifully here, allowing each chapter of Odysseus’ voyage to feel like its own unforgettable event while gradually building one cohesive and emotionally satisfying story.
The horror elements genuinely surprised me. The Cyclops sequence is one of the standout moments of the film, dripping with atmosphere, tension, and dread, while the descent into the Underworld is hauntingly beautiful and terrifying in equal measure. For years, audiences have wondered what a Christopher Nolan horror film would look like, and these sequences make me hope he explores the genre one day. The Laestrygonians are another astonishing creation, their immense scale bringing Homer’s mythology to life in a way I never thought possible.
The performances are extraordinary across the board. Matt Damon delivers a compelling and deeply human Odysseus whose journey remains captivating from beginning to end. Yet somehow, in a cast this stacked, he isn’t even the biggest standout. Tom Holland gives what I genuinely believe is the best performance of his career as Telemachus, bringing vulnerability, determination, and emotional weight that perfectly complements the story. Anne Hathaway is sensational, delivering perhaps the finest performance of her career, particularly in her scenes with Telemachus and Odysseus, some of the most emotionally & powerful moments Nolan has ever directed. Robert Pattinson is equally exceptional as Antinous, creating a villain so cruel, hateful, and commanding that I despised him from the moment he appeared. Once again, he proves why he’s one of the finest actors working today.
Then comes the final 45 minutes.
I don’t think I blinked. I sat forward in my seat with tears in my eyes, completely absorbed by what I was witnessing. By the time the credits rolled, I couldn’t move. I was speechless. It felt as though I had witnessed something truly historic.
There are so many people deserving of praise. Hoyte van Hoytema’s breathtaking cinematography, Ludwig Göransson’s soaring score, the astonishing practical filmmaking, the production design, the visual effects, and the sound design all combine to create an experience unlike anything I’ve ever seen.
The Odyssey is a true epic. It celebrates mythology on a scale cinema has rarely achieved while pushing filmmaking forward in ways that once again remind us why Christopher Nolan exists in a category of his own. Every time it feels like he’s reached his peak, he somehow raises the bar even higher.
This isn’t just Christopher Nolan’s finest film.
It’s one of the greatest cinematic achievements I’ve ever had the privilege to experience, and I genuinely don’t know how he or anyone else is supposed to top it.
Review by Luke
“To say this is piece of art for the generations to come, is an understatement." - Epicz
Where do you even start to review a movie like this. Everything it has going for it… it’s just brilliant.
Nolan adapting Homer’s Odyssey felt like a perfect fit when the news broke, and now we’re able to gaze upon its beauty, it’s even more impressive than it could have been imagined.
Robert Pattinson plays a slimy spineless weasel so well, I was enjoying how dastardly he was throughout but the last 15 minutes sold me on him being this evil coward. It’s fun to see Tom Holland out of his comfort zone through the setting, it was a bit jarring to rack anyone’s head around but after a while his role in this Greek epic clicked right into place. Matt Damon continues to be a brilliant leading man and quite action oriented too with some of the sequences Nolan puts him through. But for me, Anne Hathaway dominates the cast when it comes to any of the acting performances as she longs for her lost love over the course of a decade, and the pain and suffering that comes from that is just scarred across every line she delivers. The entire cast is magnificent, without them I’m sure this story would be lacking intrigue and excitement.
The way Ludwig Göransson matches on screen action with certain instruments was masterful on top of his tremendous score, he honestly elevates himself to another level that left me in awe. He still manages to impress me every score he produces.
I don’t want to talk much about how the IMAX 70mm format effected me, I want this review to be quite a generalised perspective of the film, but I will say it created such an immersive experience, top to bottom on the screen, into Homer’s work that I found myself afterwards exploring other outlets of his writing in the film format. To have that effect on anyone is a hard challenge to succeed in, for Nolan it’s just another side quest.
The format expanded the scope and field of the visuals to a degree that made the on location production even more intense at times, and immense. The focus puller deserves some praise and perhaps scrunity here. During several dialogue scenes, it was surprisingly difficult to stay locked onto the performances, with the focus constantly drifting between actors as they fired lines back and forth. It became particularly noticeable in moments building towards emotional outbursts, where neither actor seemed to remain consistently in focus long enough for the scene to land with its full impact. Blame the cameras and Nolan’s direction for having a take with better performances over camera quality.
A phenomenal achievement in filmmaking, production quality and just cinema itself. I was taken back by just how detailed or incredible Nolan has meticulously crafted certain scenes, and the practicality of them all. To say this is piece of art for the generations to come, is an understatement.
Review by Epicz
“By the Gods, did this deliver!" - Alex Kestis
I am a huge fan of greek mythology and have been since I have been young, so this was one movie I was REALLY looking forward to this year. And by the gods, did it deliver!
The scope of the movie was genuinely perfect and I think It was the sheer amount of practical effects that Nolan used when creating the movie that made this even more perfect.
But, the absolute emotional rollercoaster this film is too is unbelievable. Moments like Polyphemus’ cave and the Body Horror montage with Circe had my heart racing to the genuine epic-ness of the story such as when Odysseus strings his bow, which is a moment people cheered at in the cinema.
I also cannot name a single poor performance from this huge cast either. Matt Damon, Himesh Patel, Anne Hathaway and even Tom Holland were all standouts for me in this. Tom Holland is actually a performance I was really surprise by because he portrayed Telemachus brilliantly.
The score and the sound design in this movie was also outstanding. Again, that moment when Odysseus plucks his bow after stringing it left goosebumps every time mainly because of the sound. The siren song designed by Ludwig was also incredible and I can see why Odysseus would want to listen to it too.
Personally, the quality of this movie speaks for itself. Nolan is actually a visionary and his work continues to leave me in awe.
Review by Alex Kestis