Director: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Charlize Theron, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyongo'o, Samantha Morton, John Leguizamo, Jon Bernthal
Running Time: 173 minutes
Synopsis: With her husband Odysseus (Matt Damon) now absent for 20 years, Queen of Ithaca Penelope (Anne Hathaway) and her son Telemachus (Tom Holland) are besieged by suitors, including the conniving Antinous (Robert Pattinson). Odysseus had used the Trojan Horse ruse to deliver victory in the exhaustive war against Troy. He sets sail for home with a small group of his soldiers, but they are soon lost at sea, encountering dangerous enemies in the form of giant sheep-herder cyclops, man-eating giants, the witch Circe (Samantha Morton), and the alluring nymph Calypso (Charlize Theron). In the meantime, Telemachus heads out to sea to find information about his father.
What Works Well: The adaptation of Homer's Odyssey is a grand cinematic event, capturing the scope and scale of an epic adventure and conflicted emotions resonating through history. Packed with non-stop incidents, combat, and narrow escapes, director and writer Christopher Nolan ensures no dull moments, and leans heavily on physical and practical special effects to create stunning visuals. The highlights include the heart-pounding magnificence of a small group of warriors emerging from the Trojan Horse to unlock victory, the side-trip to Hades, and a finale soaked in cathartic revenge, all set to the broodingly rhythmic music of Ludwig Göransson. The cast is stocked with star power, and the thematic clash between battleground success and civilization's trajectory is handled with crushing poignancy.
What Does Not Work As Well: The combat scenes are often edited into smithereens, and the pacing is at times jerky, particularly in short-changing the essential Agamemnon (Benny Safdie) sub-plot. The opening 90 minutes are undoubtedly thrilling, but settle for highlight reel expediency in awaiting the arrival of more soulful character-driven motivations.
Key Quote:
Agamemnon (to Odysseus, in Hades): Don't make my mistake. Don't walk in the front door expecting garlands and praise. Come in disguise. Take your time. Assess.
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