There are no new stories, not really. Humans have been taking something they heard, changing it up a little and then passing it on since we were hanging out around campfires between woolly mammoth hunts.
The core truths of these stories continue to resonate across the millennia for two main reasons, one being that we humans keep doing the same dumb stuff over and over again and the other being that we are impressively gifted at taking something ancient and making it seem fresh and new.
The outstanding new film “The Odyssey” is the perfect case in point. Based on the roughly 3,000-year-old epic poem (that’s probably even older, having been passed down through oral tradition until we perfected the whole writing-stuff-down thing), visionary filmmaker Christopher Nolan uses the greatest tricks of the trade to shake off the dusty insights of generations of scholars and make the tale of brave Odysseus feel thrilling and pressingly relevant.
At this point in his career, Nolan knows how to make a movie, and he knows that the shortest path to success is to pack the screen with stunning visuals and excellent actors.
The story itself, which chronicles Odysseus’ years-long journey home after the Trojan War ,including all of the gods and monsters he encounters along the way, lends itself to more stunning visuals than you can shake a stick at.
As for the actors, the cast is led by Matt Damon, who gives arguably the best performance of his career, bringing the full weight and pathos of years of absence to his portrayal of a character defined by daring adventure. He’s a near-lock for a Best Actor Academy Award nomination.
And while I’m handing out Oscar nominations, don’t be surprised to see supporting nods go to Anne Hathaway as Odysseus’ long-suffering wife, Penelope; Robert Pattinson as Antinous, the most craven of Penelope’s sniveling, villainous suitors; Tom Holland as Odysseus’ noble son; and John Leguizamo as the family’s most loyal servant.
And that’s not even counting the likes of Charlize Theron, Zendaya, Jon Bernthal, Elliot Page, Samantha Morton and Lupita Nyong’o, who captivate during their brief time on screen.
For most filmmakers, absolutely crushing a straightforward adaptation of “The Odyssey” would have been enough. But what makes Nolan different, and elevates this film into greatness, is his willingness to dig deeper amidst all of the jaw-dropping spectacle.
He paints the Trojan Horse, cited throughout history as evidence of Odysseus’ brilliance and cunning, as the tale’s original sin, which in turn makes Odysseus’ trials not only a relentless quest to return home, but also an act of atonement for the death and destruction he wrought upon the city of Troy.
In a year when movies are fighting their way back into the center ring of popular culture, “The Odyssey” proves that cinema can shock, awe and unite humanity in a way few other art forms can.
“The Odyssey” is rated R for violence and some language.
