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\nAnne Hathway stars as Penelope alongside Tom Holland as Telemachus<\/p>\n
Christopher Nolan has never been afraid to think big, but with The Odyssey, he does something even more impressive. He takes one of the oldest stories ever told and makes it feel immediate and deeply human.<\/p>\n
Based on Homer’s epic poem, the film follows Odysseus, played by Matt Damon, on the long and perilous journey home after the Trojan War, while his wife, Penelope, and son, Telemachus, face their own battles in his absence.<\/p>\n
Watch: Matt Damon and Tom Holland on the physical toil of making The Odyssey and their favourite memories of Ireland<\/p>\n
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There are towering waves, brutal battles, and unforgettable encounters with mythical creatures, but each challenge reveals another side of Odysseus. He is not an untouchable hero, but a man driven by love, grief, and the hope of seeing his family again.<\/p>\n
More than 2,000 years after Homer first told the story, its themes still resonate: war, separation, resilience, and what it means to wait for someone you love to come home.<\/p>\n
\nAnne Hathway stars as Penelope alongside Tom Holland as Telemachus<\/p>\n
Matt Damon is exceptional. He plays Odysseus as a weary and vulnerable man as much as a legendary warrior. Anne Hathaway brings strength and stillness to Penelope, while Tom Holland continues to impress as a dramatic actor, capturing both Telemachus’ determination and uncertainty. Robert Pattinson is also memorable as the villainous Antinous and delivers a performance that is difficult to look away from.<\/p>\n
Although not on the screen for long, both Zendaya as Athena and Charlize Theron as Calypso make a lasting impression. Their characters help guide, test, and shape Odysseus’ journey, showing that some of the most important moments come from the people he meets along the way.<\/p>\n
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\nRobert Pattinson is both charming and menacing as Antinous<\/p>\n
One of the film’s most unforgettable turns comes from Samantha Morton. As the witch Circe, she is captivating and unsettling in equal measure. Her physicality and precision create a character who lingers long after her scenes end.<\/p>\n
The sequence inside the Trojan Horse is among the film’s most striking. Nolan shoots it with remarkable restraint, placing the audience alongside Odysseus and his men in the darkness as they wait in silence. The cramped space and mounting tension create a genuine feeling of claustrophobia, making you feel as though you are trapped inside the horse with them. It is one of the film’s pivotal moments and a masterclass in building tension.<\/p>\n
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\nChristopher Nolan climbed inside the Trojan Horse alongside the cast for one of the film’s most memorable scenes<\/p>\n
Nolan structures the film almost like a series of chapters, giving each trial its own character. Despite its considerable runtime, it never feels slow. Visually, it is astonishing, shot across rugged coastlines and ancient landscapes in a way that makes every part of the journey feel real. The sea is punishing, the cold bites, and every climb and clash carries weight.<\/p>\n
But for all its technical brilliance, it is the human moments that stay with you. For all its breathtaking scale, The Odyssey never loses sight of the people at its heart. It is a story about finding your way home; about what war takes and what hope can give back. Nolan has made an epic that feels both ancient and strikingly relevant.<\/p>\n
The Odyssey is in cinemas from Friday, 17 July.<\/p>\n
Watch: The trailer for Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey<\/p>\n
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