Countless stories have been told about the trials and triumphs of war. But far fewer are told about the challenges awaiting the men who survive battle.
The most famous is “The Odyssey,” Homer’s epic poem recounting the Trojan War hero’s journey home. The ancient tale of perseverance, bravery, cunning and loyalty is epically adapted for the big screen by director, producer and screenwriter Christopher Nolan and brought to life by Matt Damon, who plays the beleaguered Odysseus. The 2 hour and 52 minute film jumps between the siege of Troy, Odysseus’ winding journey home and the trials his family faces while awaiting his homecoming. Viewers accompany the crew on this grueling voyage but have the satisfaction of knowing that the hero makes it home.
Viewers who haven’t read the Odyssey since high school likely won’t notice the modifications Nolan has made to the story. The film features all of the poem’s most memorable villains: the cyclops and his sheep, the witch Circe, the singing sirens, the lotus flower, the whirlpool Charybdis and the monster Scylla. But for a tale about mythical gods and magical creatures, the tone of the film is grounded and gritty rather than ethereal. The goddess Athena, played by Zendaya, and the nymph Calypso, played by Charlize Theron, for example, are depicted as plainspoken, simply dressed women. Somehow even the monsters seem realistic. Though earthbound, the film showcases the incredible natural beauty of sunny hilltops, deep blue waves and sandy shores. The film is notably shot on IMAX film, though viewers can watch it on a smaller screen, too.
The movie is rated R for violence and some language, though thankfully the violence is not overly graphic. Still, the action-packed ordeal isn’t always easy to watch, from the crew’s grotesque transformation into swine to a bloody massacre by giants, deadly stormy seas and the destruction of Troy. Viewers find some relief from Odysseus’ onslaught in the more political drama of Ithaca, as mother, son and loyal servants hold the kingless kingdom together. Odysseus’s wife, Penelope, played by Anne Hathaway, and their son Telemachus, played by Tom Holland, try to thwart the suitors vying to take Odysseus’ wife and kingdom. Actor Robert Pattinson is especially good as the two-faced leader of the suitors, Antinous.
Nolan adds some slightly distracting modern touches to the ancient tale but ultimately stays close to the source material. He explores deeper themes of duty to the gods and to society, and the cost of war to veterans and their families, particularly the cost of winning through deception. Odysseus grapples with free will, fate and the role of the divine in his life.
With its star-studded cast, scenery and sheer length, “The Odyssey” sets out to impress and it succeeds. But its real power is allowing the larger-than-life story to speak for itself. To let audiences see men sacrifice themselves in pursuit of a common cause. To watch a son find the father he’s waited his whole life to meet. To see love and fidelity triumph when Odysseus greets Penelope again.
Maraist is a freelancer from Reston.
