The first reactions to Christopher Nolan‘s The Odyssey are in.
Here is a sample of the comments about Nolan’s epic, which tells the story of the Greek hero Odysseus’ (Matt Damon) long, torturous and fantastical trip home from the Trojan War, back to the Kingdom of Ithaca to save his wife Penelope (Anne Hathaway) and son Telemachus (Tom Holland). The Odyssey is the first film to be entirely shot in the Imax format, and critics are being shown the film in Imax theaters, where available.
Universal is handling the first reactions a bit differently for The Odyssey. Instead of having dedicated “word of mouth” screenings that allow influencers and fan bloggers to react first to the film on social media, professional journalists and others who have seen the movie at its London premiere and other press screenings will be included in the first reaction wave (along with some influencers who took part in press junkets).
Time Out: “Dense but accessible, packed with career-best work from the stacked cast – Samantha Morton is extraordinary – it’s a dizzying mix of craft and spectacle that’s built to last. Seen it twice, took so much away both times: a chilling vision of brutalized men seeing themselves in the eyes of women, a study of leadership and an old-school sweeping adventure tale. Even the Cyclops got me in the feels. There’s even a few laughs, too. Go see. Twice.”
IndieWire: “The Odyssey: a surprisingly natural (and less despairing) Oppenheimer follow-up about a man haunted by defying the gods & dooming civilization — this one fights to avenge his own hubris. IMAX obviously immense. Too clunky to be S-tier Nolan, but the last act rewards the journey.”
Variety: “I have seen Christopher Nolan’s #TheOdyssey, and it is an astonishing achievement. A triumphant, spectacular epic. The performances from Tom Holland, Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, John Leguizamo, Robert Pattinson and Lupita Nyong’o are genuinely grand. And for some, truly, the best performances of their career! … Christopher Nolan is a visionary, and #TheOdyssey is a work of art … The battle scenes, especially at Troy, are breathtaking. It’s an incredible epic.”
The Independent: “Nolan’s biggest film to date. This film has about triple the number of huge set pieces than any of Nolan’s previous films, and every single one of them is breathtaking in their own way. In The Odyssey, Nolan showcases visual trickery in a way you’ve never seen a few before. The only criticism I have, and it’s a good problem, is … you’re often left wanting more of each set piece, and it certainly goes your way into height of the re-watchability factor of the film. I also can’t quite remember a film having such a stacked cast, where everyone delivers. Special shouts out to Tom Holland in his best role to date with Telemachus, Himesh Patel … and Samantha Morton who damn well steals the show with the few scenes she’s in.”
The Hollywood Reporter film editor Aaron Couch: “Been seeing his movies in theaters since Memento, and after 25 years, #TheOdyssey gives us a first: a fleshed out horror sequence directed by Christopher Nolan.”
DigitalSpy: “The Odyssey is staggering. Packed with intense and spectacular set pieces, often backed by a soul-rattling score, it builds to a final act that’s as good as anything Nolan’s done. Purists might baulk at the adaptation changes, but as an experience, nobody is doing it like Nolan.”
Collider: “Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is *incredible*. I’ve been lucky enough to watch it twice and it gets better on the second viewing. I’m really blown away by this film. If you can, SEE IT IN @IMAX 70mm. It’s a jaw dropping experience. It’ll be great wherever you see it, but IMAX 70mm is the best option.”
Critic Eric Davis: “Christopher Nolan’s #TheOdyssey is an absolute triumph and a crowning cinematic achievement from one of the great filmmakers of our time. The production design is incredible, the action is breathtaking, and the scale is unlike anything he’s done before. What really surprised me is how much he embraces horror … Anne Hathaway is incredible, Matt Damon is excellent, and Tom Holland continues to prove he can do just about anything. But Robert Pattinson absolutely stole the show for me. Look, it’s the must-see cinematic event of the summer — and quite possibly the year. I can’t wait to watch it again.”
The Odyssey also features the nymph Calypso (Charlize Theron) and Penelope’s sniveling suitor, Antinous (Robert Pattinson), who is seeking to marry the queen and become the ruler of Ithaca. The film also features Odysseus’ servant Eumaeus (John Leguizamo) and Jon Bernthal as Menelaus, the Greek king of Sparta.
The Odyssey lands in theaters July 17. The latest trailer is below.
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