The anticipation was huge, the theater was full, but the audience’s disinterest as the credits rolled spoke volumes. At 172 minutes, the film felt like an endless slog. This isn't a faithful adaptation of Homer’s epic; it’s a bloated and self-important failure that disregards the source material, ignores Greek identity, and forces what feels like a politically motivated agenda onto viewers while featuring some of the worst performances from well-known actors I’ve seen in years. From the very beginning, it was obvious Nolan had no interest in Homer's actual words. Instead of consulting the original Greek or a traditional translation, he based the film on Emily Wilson’s contemporary, feminist interpretation—a questionable reinterpretation that alters the poem’s language, downplays heroic qualities, and injects modern social issues into the narrative. It’s no wonder it lacks soul. *The Odyssey* is a foundational work of Western civilization, a story of cunning, homecoming, divine intervention, human resilience, told through sweeping oral poetry. Nolan reduces it to nothingness. Matt Damon as Odysseus is a major miscast; he seems detached, like a tired Jason Bourne in a tunic, delivering flat lines with no charisma or the presence of a Bronze Age king. There’s no wit, no depth, just blank stares. Zendaya's Athena feels stiff and out of place, Tom Holland’s Telemachus is hyperactive but hollow, Anne Hathaway’s Penelope seems disinterested, and Robert Pattinson’s role is lost in shadow. Charlize Theron as Calypso, Jon Bernthal who looks like he wandered over from a Robin Hood film, and John Leguizamo all seem awkwardly inserted with no connection or gravitas. Worst of all is Elliot Page as Sinon (replacing Achilles after criticism); his movements are rigid and unnatural, ruining every action sequence. Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy (and Clytemnestra) feels completely wrong and misrepresents the characters. The entire main cast is poorly chosen; the acting is bad across the board, which diminishes what little remains worthwhile. The complete absence of Greek culture is unforgivable. This cornerstone of Western literature, the first great literary work of our civilization, has been turned into a generic fantasy franchise by Hollywood. Greece helped finance this project with taxpayer money, yet there isn’t a single Greek actor in a significant role—no actors with olive skin, no Mediterranean spirit, no authentic Mycenaean aesthetics, let alone period-appropriate costumes. In fact, the scenery and costumes resemble leftover elements from another Nolan fantasy film. Even worse, they cast actors in roles that directly contradict Homer's descriptions and the traditional imagery of ancient Greek heroes and gods...and what was Travis Scott doing in this film! It’s a blatant cultural erasure, profiting off Greece’s heritage while replacing its people. The premiere didn’t even take place in Athens because they feared public backlash—a smart move, as Greeks are understandably outraged. The politically motivated casting is the ultimate insult. Lupita as Helen, the face that launched a thousand ships? Homer described her with golden hair and beauty, but Nolan decided to "modernize" the text for today's agenda. Zendaya as Athena...with her usual expressionless face? Elliot Page’s stand-in for Achilles? The diverse cast screams about meeting quotas rather than honoring truth. It isn’t “inclusive”; it’s dishonest revisionism that strips the story of its European roots and historical context. On top of that, Nolan’s signature dark and gloomy tone feels completely wrong for this story. *The Odyssey* belongs to bright Mediterranean sun, blue seas, and vibrant Hellenic vitality, even amidst tragedy. Imposing his Batman/Dunkirk atmosphere over it makes everything feel oppressive and out of place, like forcing a Nordic winter onto the Aegean; he even included Viking-style ships, completely anachronistic! The music doesn't fit any scene, and the rap at the end credits was another baffling moment. Visually, some scenes in IMAX are impressive, but it’s an empty spectacle. I wondered when it would end, feeling there wasn’t even a real climax halfway through the film. Save your money and reread the original *Odyssey* instead, Homer's *Odyssey*. In fact, go ahead and reread *Homer's Iliad* too to see how little the actors and Nolan himself understood the actual source material. Nolan’s *The Odyssey* is at best a one- or two-star disaster—a terrible performance from the cast, cultural disrespect, reliance on a politicized translation, "modernized" for public consumption while ostensibly aimed at critics and Oscar voters, and ultimately proof of what's wrong with modern Hollywood, all wrapped in expensive packaging.

Source on TMDB