Christopher Nolan’s three-hour adaptation of Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey, had its world premiere in London on Monday night. Critics who saw it there or at early US screenings have been sharing their thoughts on one of the year’s most highly anticipated films.
“The Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw wrote, ‘Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey is a massive origin-myth story about postwar disillusion and a loss of innocence, witnessed by the dead.’ This came ahead of the reviews embargo lifting next Wednesday and the film’s worldwide release next Friday.
IndieWire editor-at-large Anne Thompson called the film the best picture contender to beat and added that Matt Damon ‘could win best actor.’ ‘My high expectations were met,’ she said, describing the film as ‘stunningly mounted.’
Many critics called the film ‘flawless’ and ‘breathtaking,’ with several singling out Robert Pattinson’s villainous Antinous for special praise.
Erik Davis said the film is ‘an absolute triumph and a crowning cinematic achievement from one of the great filmmakers of our time. It feels like everything Nolan has been working toward with Imax has come together here.’ The film was shot entirely with large-format Imax film cameras, though it will also be shown in non-Imax theaters.
‘The production design is incredible,’ Davis continued. ‘The action is breathtaking, and the scale is unlike anything he’s done before. What really surprised me is how much he embraces horror. Some of the film’s biggest moments are genuinely unsettling, adding a whole new dimension to his filmmaking while never losing sight of the story’s human core.’
Davis added: ‘Anne Hathaway is incredible, Matt Damon is excellent, and Tom Holland continues to prove he can do just about anything. But Robert Pattinson absolutely stole the show for me. He’s so conniving, manipulative, and endlessly entertaining to watch. Pattinson fully embraces the character’s villainy, and it results in one of my favorite performances of his.’
Matt Neglia praised the set-pieces, calling the film ‘a colossal achievement of scale, even by Nolan’s standards.’ IndieWire’s David Ehrlich described it as ‘surprisingly natural’ and ‘less despairing’ than Nolan’s most recent film, Oppenheimer, which swept the 2023 Oscars and earned nearly $1 billion at the box office.
However, Ehrlich also noted that the film was ‘too clunky to be S-tier Nolan, but the last act rewards the journey.’
Classical historian Tom Holland—no relation to the film’s star—defended the movie on X, saying: ‘I’ve now watched it twice, and it is by far the best cinematic adaptation of a Greek myth I have ever seen. It honors Homer while also creating something new from his work.’
With an estimated budget of $250 million and a significant worldwide tour to fund, the film will need to earn at least $500 million to break even. But signs are strong that moviegoing is making a comeback, thanks to the strong performance of blockbusters like Toy Story 5 and unexpected low-budget hits like Backrooms and Obsession.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs based on the early reactions to Christopher Nolans latest film described as An absolute triumph
BeginnerLevel Questions
Q What does An absolute triumph mean in the context of Christopher Nolans movie
A It means that early viewers think the movie is a complete success They believe its one of Nolans best films with no major flaws
Q Is this a review of a specific movie or just a general comment
A This is a specific reaction to Christopher Nolans new movie The phrase An absolute triumph is a quote from a critic who saw an early screening
Q Why are people calling it a triumph before the movie is even released
A Because select film critics and industry insiders were invited to early private screenings Their social media posts and articlesfilled with praise like thisare called early reactions
Q Does early reactions mean the movie is definitely good
A Its a very strong sign Early reactions are usually positive but they come from a small group of people The final score from all critics and regular audiences will give a fuller picture
AdvancedLevel Questions
Q How reliable are early reactions compared to full reviews
A They are less reliable because theyre often emotional first impressions Full reviews are more detailed and critical However a wave of absolute triumph reactions usually predicts a very high Rotten Tomatoes score
Q What specific aspects of the film are these reactions praising
A Early reactions typically highlight three things Cillian Murphys lead performance Ludwig Granssons intense musical score and Nolans direction
Q Is this reaction surprising for a Christopher Nolan film
A Not really Nolan has a strong track record But many critics were worried a threehour biographical drama about a physicist might be boring The triumph label means its surprisingly thrilling and accessible
Q What common problem do early reactions address about this type of movie
