Greetings again from the darkness. What makes a movie “epic”? Most cinephiles would agree the list of epic movies includes LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962), GONE WITH THE WIND (1939), BEN-HUR (1959), and APOCALYPSE NOW (1979). Of course, arguments can be made for many other films, and it really comes down to how you define ‘epic’ and how you perceive a specific film. Regardless of your definition or perception, there is no doubt that this latest from Oscar winning filmmaker Christopher Nolan is an epic film and an epic movie-watching experience. Yes, it’s the first film to be filmed entirely with IMAX 70mm cameras, and it’s based on the Homer’s “Odyssey”, itself a piece of epic Greek literature … but it also is a piece of filmmaking unlike anything we’ve previously seen.
Oscar winner Matt Damon stars as Odysseus, and the story is centered on his ten-year journey home after the Trojan War. This includes a breathtaking Trojan Horse sequence, told with a twist from tradition. My favorite sequence (and that’s really saying something) involves the Cyclops and his flock of sheep inside the Master Cave in Greece. It’s truly staggering film work that would itself win every technical Oscar in most years. However, Nolan offers us so much more here – action-packed battle scenes, torturous boat journeys at sea, other creatures that must be seen (Scylla who snatches men from the deck of a ship), and the unheard (by us) song of the Sirens known to seize men. Another terrific sequence involves a fabulous Samantha Morton as Circe the witch, who has a special way of treating strangers.
Oscar winner Anne Hathaway plays Queen Penelope, wife to Odysseus and mother to their son Telemachus, played by (Spider-Man) Tom Holland. The two have a twenty year wait to see if Odysseus lives and if he will return to them in Ithaca. Penelope is left to manage the power struggles for her hand in marriage and for the kingdom, with a key figure being the slimy Antinous (Robert Pattinson). Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o plays the stunning Helen of Troy, as well as her twin sister in a dual role, and it’s Zendaya who shows up periodically for Odysseus as the goddess Athena. In a substantial role, we find Oscar winner Charlize Theron as Calypso, spending years on her island with the wayward and lost Odysseus. Nolan’s cast is massive and talented and includes John Leguizano in a key role, as well as Jon Bernthal as Menelaus, Elliot Page as Sinon, and Himesh Patel as Eurylochus … plus many others you’ll recognize.
Nolan reteams with Oscar winning cinematographer Hoyte Van Hoytema to provide a truly amazing visual experience, filming in at least six countries to help us visualize Antiquity and Odysseus’ journey across the Mediterranean Sea: Morocco, Greece, Italy, Iceland, Scotland, and Malta. Three-time Oscar winner Ludwig Goransson delivers a unique and powerful score, with a blend of electronics and even some jazz. Nolan has credited Emily Wilson’s 2017 translation of Homer’s “Odyssey” for the modern language take, and though “Zeus’s Law” is referenced a few times, it can easily be described as human decency. The modern-day messages shine through – false gods, lust for power, and treating others poorly are mistakes humans have made over and over … and these messages couldn’t be more relevant than right now. The film reportedly had a $250 million budget, and as amazing as the film is, there will surely be those who complain that it moves too slowly or the film is too dark. I would only say that watching the film is like having a book unfold in front of you. I would certainly recommend if you are planning to see the film, head to an IMAX theater or at least the biggest screen nearby.
Opens in theaters on July 17, 2026
Movie Reviews from the Dark 