One of the most sought out films of the year ‘The Odyssey’ released on July 17. The Christopher Nolan masterpiece had a lot of specialities since the beginning, from being his first Greek mythological piece to shot entirely on IMAX cameras.
The starcast comprised many Hollywood most loved celebrities including Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong'o, Charlize Theron and many other supporting cast. The film is also produced by Nolan along with producer-wife Emma Thomas.
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Based on Homer’s epic Odyssey, the main theme of the film is the life of Odysseus, King of Ithaca, (played by Matt Damon) and his perilous return back home after the Trojan War.
The story starts with a storyteller narrating the epic - played by Travis Scott who has also done the end credits music for the film.
The film revolves around the kingdom of Ithaca that is now being controlled by the suitors, after the absence of Odysseus who left for war. Odysseus’s wife, Penelope (played by Anne Hathaway) is constantly forced into marriage by the rude suitors in order to maintain stability of the kingdom because only a man was allowed to rule the throne. After years of no information of Odysseus and his whereabouts, everyone confirms that he is no more alive leaving Penelope in distress to choose a suitor, especially the villain of the tale Antinous (played by Robert Pattinson). Seeing his mother’s difficulty the grown up young prince Telemachus (played by Tom Holland) sets off on his journey in search of his father, Odysseus. The first quarter revolves around these scenes of tension in and around the palace and kingdom.
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Telemachus learns more about his father from Menelaus (played by Jon Bernthal). As the story unfolds, Odysseus is seen exploring many sites on his journey home where each place is filled with its own dangerous adventures. Throughout his journey, the hero also learns many bitter truths about his life, experiences, and many other instances.
The film offers a vivid visual magic of natural beauty mainly because of the shooting being completed in real life locations with no use of graphical elements, making one wonder about the unbelievable spectacles that exist in the real world. Matt Damon carries the whole film with his strong presence on screen and gritful charisma as the main character, Odysseus. Anne Hathaway steals the show with her crisp dialogue delivery and heavy acting, embodying a queen awaiting her long gone husband. Telemachus, played by Tom Holland has been one of the perfect casting. He got that childish young prince charm alongside the slow maturity which gets developed slowly in the story. Zendaya and Charlize Theron both play Greek goddesses Athena and Calypso respectively who are seen as an integral part of Odysseus in his course of the sail. Lupita Nyong'o adorns the twin roles of Queen Helen and Queen Clytemnestra with ease making her a prominent cast in the project.
Even though the cast is ensembled with a heavily star-studded cast, the main focus of light was felt only among the family-trio Damon-Hathaway-Holland who occupied most of the screen time.
Other notable mentions include Himesh Patel as Eurylochus, who is shown as the closest companion of Odysseus in his voyage and John Leguizamo reprising the role of Eumaeus, the loyal servant of Odysseus. Both of the characters were well performed in all aspects by the stars. Elliot Page is also seen in a prominent role as Sinon, a great warrior from Odysseues’s army.
The film also added many animals and wildlife in between which are equally relevant to an actor in the storyline. As the tale goes on, lies,vengeance, betrayal, melancholy, attacks and joy go hand in hand giving the complete film a rollercoaster of emotions.
The film not just talks about the mythology exactly the way it is but integrates added creative experiments from Nolan.
There didn't seem to be lacking anything major in the film. The story is of a format which can be extended in many ways giving the creators innumerable options for a spinoff or franchise.
The final ending is filled with many well articulated emotional elements which offer many sad parts but eventually ending in catharsis.
