WHAT WE’RE WATCHING: Nolan’s The Odyssey reimagines Homer in an epic worth the journey
Director Christopher Nolan adapts Homer’s ancient mythological poem of heroes, monsters, and gods into a star-studded blockbuster epic.
A director of considerable acclaim, Christopher Nolan, has adapted Homer's ancient mythological poem, The Odyssey, into a star-studded blockbuster epic. Titled "The Odyssey," this film weaves together various story beats from Homer’s epic, including Emily Wilson’s translation, and other sources like Virgil’s The Aeneid, as well as inspiration from 18th-century Spanish painter Francisco Goya.
The resulting film is more of Nolan’s story than a historical recounting, as the ancient tales of heroes, monsters, and gods are designed to entertain and elucidate, granting some leeway in their retelling.
The film opens with rapper Travis Scott, playing the bard Phemius, performing rap verses, which may not be what some viewers anticipate. Nolan's decision to cast actors with modern accents while standing in massive sets in real-world locations presents an intentional anachronistic flair that will likely divide audiences. Despite a runtime nearing three hours, "The Odyssey" maintains a rapid pace, frequently shifting from dramatic peaks to troughs, with editor Jennifer Lame ensuring a kinetic flow.
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