The Odyssey

The epic to end all epics. The story to end all stories. An absolute masterpiece from the undisputed GOAT director. For me, this is pretty close to movie perfection - the action, the drama, the stakes, the tension, the score, the acting, the emotional impact.  There was hardly a wasted moment, no scenes dragged with every single one furthering the plot, adding tension or being an unreal action sequence. I often find action gratuitous, uninspiring and dull. Not in this film, the action was great.  The siege of Troy was amazing and the way it was framed throughout the movie; initially as an ingenious trick and latterly as Odysseus greatest regret was just perfect. Seeing the guys in the horse brought the reality of what that would have been like home.  So many great varying scenes. The scene with the cyclops was claustrophobic and really built a sense of danger; the cyclops screams were haunting. The sequence with the Laestrygonians would have been genuinely terrifying if it hadn’t dominated the adverts and posters. Even knowing it was coming, seeing them come out of the mist built such a sense of dread. And the scene in the hut with the pigs was really cool - the fact that was done practically rather than cgi is mind blowing. The hades scene was great too!  I didn’t care so much for the actual boat scenes. I’ve never found storms as an enemy particularly interesting but it being a sign of Zeus and Poseidon’s displeasure did give it a slight additional dimension. And then the conclusion. Odysseus coming home and learning from the mistakes of Agamemnon, making himself the lowest of the low to destroy his enemies. And then stringing that bow and threading it through those axes like it was nothing - goosebumps. And then the slaughtering of the suitors was chefs kiss  Having deliberately avoided the story, I was so sure it was going to end in tragedy with Melantho murdering Odysseus as he couldn’t bring himself tonkill her, seeing in her the innocents killed at Troy, but that never materialised and her character seemed to disappear. But it was nice for it to end happily, with Odysseus and Penelope sailing into the sunset and Telemachus the King of Ithaca.  It’s also a film that looks and sounds unreal. Ludwig Goranson’s score enhanced the film so much and the cinematography was stellar.  The acting. Ohhh, so good. Matt Damon was perfect as Odysseus and Tom Holland and Anne Hathaway were excellent as Telemachus and Penelope. Jon Bernthal, Lupita Nyongo, John Leguizamo, Elliot Page, Samantha Morton and Zendaya were all great but the real star of the supporting cast was Robert Pattinson. I think in part this was because I’d just watched him be the affable, likeable Neil in Tenet and to then see him as the slimy Antinous just showed his range as an actor. He’s fast becoming one of my favourites. And Agamemnon’s aura was insane.  And Argos, the goodest boy who stayed alive through sheer willpower until his master came home and he could finally rest🥹 And the jump scares were fun - i jumped out of my skin 3 or 4 times.  I also loved the way it was told non-linearly, classic Nolan and enhanced the experience.  And a shout out to seeing it in IMAX - the screen was huge, the sound was colossal and it made me feel like I was one of the men following Odysseus.  And of course, FINDLATER CASTLE and SUNNYSIDE BEACH!! And quite prominent and distinctive too. That was fun.  Where? - Braehead IMAX  R rating - 10