Writer/director Christopher Nolan certainly knows how to go big. And when said titan tackles one of the biggest stories in literature, you have a new meaning for the word epic. Ancient Greek poet Homer wasn’t messing around either when he wrote the twenty-four books that make up The Odyssey, and Nolan uses all of his substantial craft to do it justice. The film is so immense that by its end (after 180 minutes) you can really relate to Odysseus’ arduous journey.
Most will be familiar with the heroic tale of the king of Ithaca, Odysseus, played by Matt Damon, and his journey home after fighting in the ten-year-long Trojan War; even those who are fuzzy on the fine details will remember the hollow horse. A blend of the harsh realities of the time mixed with a plethora of fantastical monsters and supernatural hazards leaves the film palette wide open for the imagination to run rampant. The current state of industrial technology also helps expand possibilities.
The sound design is also worthy of note, and if the cinema you choose can deliver the SPL needed to reach the intended decibels, you might want to bring earplugs; the volume level is that visceral. The relentless pace allows very little downtime, so make sure to secure plenty of snacks too. The first third of the film’s narrative follows Nolan’s preferred nonlinear timeline before settling into a more conventional arc until the end.
Technical notes aside, this is a work of colossal effort from both cast and crew. Nolan’s insistence on filming entirely with the overly large format IMAX cameras and shunning the use of green screen technology and subjecting the cast to real-world conditions restates the need for the force of will at play. This film asks much of its audience, and not just of their time, but it delivers an unrivalled cinematic experience. It does become a work for the ages.
Rob Hudson
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