THE ODYSSEY – My Review
Today I finally saw The Odyssey.
The Trailers
As usual, there were around six trailers before the feature. One film isn't due for release until New Year's Day, showing how early cinemas are now promoting upcoming releases.
A couple of the trailers were presented in 1.33:1, with one looking as though it had come from a poor-quality 16mm master. Others were in 1.85:1. It was an interesting mix of presentation formats and a reminder that awards season is approaching. Many films today are deliberately scheduled for release during this period (August and onwards) to maximise awards attention.
Sound
I watched The Odyssey in an Atmos-equipped auditorium that I have been visiting for the past 11 years, so I know it very well.
One thing that may surprise some people is that The Odyssey is not mixed in Dolby Atmos. Christopher Nolan has never been a fan of Atmos and continues to mix his films in Dolby Digital 5.1.
Today's 5.1 presentation sounded absolutely fantastic. In fact, I believe it is the best sound I have ever heard in this particular auditorium.
It reinforced something I have believed for years: Atmos, 5.1 and 7.1 all use the same processor, amplifiers and speakers. As long as the cinema's equalisation is properly set up, a well-produced 5.1 or 7.1 soundtrack can often sound better than an Atmos mix.
I have also noticed that the adverts and trailers shown before an Atmos feature often sound better than the feature itself. Advertising and trailer sound mixers clearly work hard to make their mixes stand out.
The Film
When people think of epic films, titles such as Gone with the Wind, The Ten Commandments, Lawrence of Arabia, and Doctor Zhivago immediately come to mind.
Today, I believe The Odyssey deserves to join that list.
This is an outstanding film. It has everything a great epic should have: a compelling story, a clear beginning, middle and end, and superb pacing throughout. Christopher Nolan has done an amazing job writing and directing this film, and the editing is close to perfection.
Music
Christopher Nolan made the unusual decision to ban a traditional orchestra for this film.
Instead, composer Ludwig Göransson rented 35 bronze gongs of different sizes and explored the incredible range of sounds they could produce.
The recording sessions also went far beyond conventional instruments. Göransson struck walls, railings, air-conditioning units and pieces of scrap metal to capture raw metallic textures, all of which became part of what I thought was a truly outstanding soundtrack.
Picture Quality
The film was photographed on 15/70 IMAX film.
Unfortunately, I didn't think the digital presentation fully captured the quality I expected from a 65mm negative conversion. It certainly looked good, but I was hoping for something even sharper. Focus was consistently good, although not pin-sharp throughout.
Interestingly, around the beginning of the third act, the image quality noticeably improved for a while before returning to its earlier level.
Dialogue
The dialogue is very typical of Christopher Nolan's films.
Some of his previous films have suffered from dialogue which were dubbed later in the studio, largely because 65mm IMAX cameras are extremely noisy and often make clean on-set dialogue recording impossible.
The dialogue here was acceptable, although not one of the film's strongest aspects.
One Editing Error
There was one edit that caught my attention.
An actor stood completely still for a second or two before suddenly moving, making the cut feel awkward. It stood out because the rest of the editing was so polished.
Helen of Troy
There has been a lot of discussion on social media about the casting of Helen of Troy.
Personally, I don't think it matters. Helen has relatively little screen time, appearing only occasionally throughout the film, so it really isn't an issue.
No Greek Actors?
Another criticism on social media has been the lack of Greek actors.
Again, I don't think this is an issue. Every actor looked convincing in their role and delivered a natural performance. At the end of the day, they are actors whose job is to portray characters, and I thought the cast did an excellent job.
One Scene That Didn't Belong
There was one moment that I felt should never have been included.
During an argument, one character suddenly told another to "F* off**," repeating it a second time?
For me, it felt completely out of place with the tone of the rest of the film and took me out of the moment. I think that exchange should have been removed.
Handheld IMAX
There are a surprising number of handheld shots throughout the film.
There is no official handheld 15/70 IMAX camera. Instead, Christopher Nolan and cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema use specially designed shoulder rigs that allow operators to carry the standard 35-pound (16kg) IMAX camera.
The results are excellent, adding energy and immediacy to many scenes.
Performances
For me, the standout performances came from Matt Damon and Anne Hathaway.
I fully expect this film to receive numerous award nominations during the 2027 awards season.
Final Thoughts
Without question, The Odyssey is the best film I have seen this year.
Strong word of mouth should keep it playing to large audiences in IMAX cinemas for many weeks to come.
I also have to mention Brian, who was spot on today.
Overall, it was a thoroughly enjoyable morning at the cinema watching a genuinely great film.
Scores
Dolby 5.1 Sound Mix: 10000000000000000000000000/10
Story: 10/10
Music (Ludwig Göransson): 10000000/10
DCP converted from a 65mm film negative: 7/10
Dialogue: 6/10
Helen of Troy controversy: Not really an issue
Use of the "F" word: -MINUS: 10000/10
Handheld IMAX photography: 10/10
Matt Damon & Anne Hathaway: 10/10
Brian (OFF-SET cue): 10/10
Overall Rating