We’ve been waiting for The Odyssey, and we think this is the biggest blockbuster of the summer and potentially of the year ( Dune: Part 3, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Avengers: Doomsday also in the running to hit a billion at the box office), so we won’t waste any more time and just get into it!
Here’s what we have for you this week:
Concession Stand Scorecard: The Odyssey
Friends We Recommend: Skygap is helping us decide which theater to book
This week’s movie - The Odyssey
Letterboxd Description:
Defy the gods.
The Odyssey is a mythic action epic that adapts Homer’s foundational saga.
Best Watched With
Anyone who has a strong bladder and enjoys an ensemble cast and mythical stories or movies in general, or someone who was once a stranger until you shared a meal.
End Credit Thoughts
There have been dozens of film and television adaptations of Homer’s poem, each with its own filmmaker’s take, artistic imagination, approach, and interpretation. Leading up to this release, we have read countless critiques and opinions on Christopher Nolan’s version of a poetic tale told since the 8th/7th century BCE. Comments about casting, historical accuracy, dialogue, and inconsistencies riddled the internet, which we found humorous, considering the mythological poetic work of fiction was likely passed down through oral tradition.
When it comes to the art of adaptation, we are more concerned with how the essence of the original work comes to life through the vision of the director, the eye of the cinematographer, the ears of the composer, and the movement of the actors. We appreciate the passion and effort, done with intentionality and care, more than we do a filmmaker making a faithful, verbatim adaptation. Translating literary work to music and moving images is difficult work, but Nolan is hard to beat when it comes to his passion and work ethic for his craft.
We had no idea that Nolan had the horror gene. I mean, The Prestige (2006) dabbled in it, but damn. There were a few scenes in this film that he really brought his A-GAME with horror. Not JUST jump scares, but true tension and terror were palpable - which is wild to think about with this story. Or is it? There was Polyphemus, the one-eyed-son of Poseidon.
The ensemble cast was incredible. However limited screen time may have been for some — Zendeya, Theron, Mia Goth, etc — it truly made the movie special. Each of them brought their A-game, which added so much juice to the movie. Matt Damon does not always draw us to a movie, but we always enjoy his work. Surrounded by a powerful supporting cast, Damon packs a punch while letting everyone take up space and do their thing.
The world-building was also phenomenal as we followed Odysseus and his men on their adventures through Poseidon’s waters and even into Hades. The IMAX cameras served justice, capturing the roaring seas and grand landscapes — from the barren beaches of Troy to Calypso’s Island to the grand hall in the House of Odysseus — the rich colors were mesmerizing. We were LOCKED in for the full three hours. A long run time, but the combination of the performances and visuals felt more like a two-hour movie.
The secret ingredient that made the magic happen, that glued all the pieces together seamlessly, was Ludwig Göransson’s film score. The dialogue, for sure, brought the poetics, communicating themes of justice, hubris, the laws of the gods, shame and honor, and loyalty, but the music made the words sing. It set the tone for the movie, and each note compounded the previous one, culminating in an emotional grand finale.
The crew highly recommends watching this in theaters. We are unsure if this movie will hit the same at home.
We were grateful to experience it in 70MM, a real treat.
Josh Jump Scare Count: 11
Want to know more about our individual ratings of movies?
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SKYLER NERI AKA @Skygap
IMAX vs 70MM vs Dolby vs Regular theater: If you are wondering which format to watch this movie, watch our sweet friend Skyler break it down in this tiktok video.
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Tune in next week for | TBD
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