In the eloquent narrative arc of Writer and Director Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, legendary warrior Odysseus, played by Matt Damon, kneels to gently pet his dog Argos, “Goodbye.” 20-year-old Argos dies before his master Odysseus returned home to Ithaca. Tom Holland’s Telemachus watches in tears, seeing his Dad for the very first time in his life. Odysseus tells his son, “You are worthy.” Christopher Nolan and Matt Damon are the quiet power of The Odyssey. Filmed entirely in IMAX, The Odyssey is Christopher Nolan’s sublime masterpiece. The Best Movie of 2026, so far.
In Christopher Nolan’s screenplay based on Homer’s poem The Odyssey, Odysseus suffers penance for defying the Gods. He and his soldiers slaughtered the City of Troy, hiding inside the giant horse that was supposed to be a gift from the Gods. In their escape they battle the giant Cyclops, played by Bill Irwin. Circe, played by scary strange Samantha Morton, feeds Odysseus’s men transforming them into pigs, their true nature.
Athena, played by wistful Zendaya, Goddess of Wisdom and War, is Odysseus’s muse on the journey. Her human form resembles the girl his men killed in Troy. Before leaving for Troy, Odysseus’s wife Penelope, played by strong beautiful Anne Hathaway says, “Promise me, you will come back.” Bowing his head Odysseus says, “What if I can’t?”
As The Odyssey opens in Ithaca, Telemachus (Tom Holland) trains to be a warrior under the watch of blind Eumaeus, played by weary wise John Leguizamo. Eumaeus cares for Odysseus’s faithful dog Argos, who listens to him almost was well as his master.
For 20 years, Penelope (Anne Hathaway) fended suitors at her missing husband’s home. Antinous, played with malevolent darkness by Robert Pattinson, is the main rival for her affections. Antinous is craftier evil than warrior prowess, the glorified bully and coward. Robert Pattinson brilliantly manipulates the acute disdain for him. Anne Hathaway mesmerizes as Penelope, the woman who strains to be perfect out of fear. Knowing if she’s not, could cost her life and the life of her son, Telemachus. Bewildered Telemachus leaves Ithaca to search for his father, the man he never knew, who is the great love of his Mother.
For the past 7 years, immortal nymph Calypso, played by beautiful ethereal Charlize Theron, nursed Odysseus back to health and fell in love with him. He remained captive on her island and in love with her from the flowers she fed him. Odysseus finally gets it. He asks Calypso, “Help me go home.” All his life, Odysseus defied the gods, determining his own fate. Calypso warns, “You’re a man, who needs to control his fate. But you cannot control this.”
I didn’t read Homer’s The Odyssey in high school. Still, I believe that in Homer and Christopher Nolan’s narrative, regardless of the Gods, regardless of free will, we don’t control anything. Matt Damon is powerful and vulnerable as Odysseus in his humanity and undying love for his wife and son. This might be Matt Damon’s best performance. He could win Best Actor Oscar. Christopher Nolan could win another Oscar for Best Director, too.
Outwardly, The Odyssey could become the singular vengeance tale. Odysseus calmly tells his old friend Eumaeus, “Bringing it all.” Yet, The Odyssey becomes the great love story. Odysseus really came back for the great love of his life. Penelope said, “Love’s not a sacrifice.” Although Odysseus will sacrifice it all.
Christopher Nolan creates his most cathartic narrative arc in The Odyssey. I’m guessing that Odysseus didn’t go full John Wick in Homer’s epic poem. Anne Hathaway is sublime as Penelope listens to Matt Damon’s Odysseus string his bow in the challenge. Odysseus dismantles Antinous’s men with his bow and arrow, and sword. Matt Damon is total Badass executing much of his Jason Bourne mixed martial arts skills. In the climactic narrative arc, Odysseus stares at Antinous, “When you see my men in Hades…”
Wounded Odysseus lies in Penelope’s arms. She cries comforting her husband. He says, “I love you.” I cried, too. Ironically, this is reminiscent of Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises, also with Anne Hathaway. Anne played Selina Kyle (Catwoman), the great love of Bruce Wayne (Batman), played by Christian Bale. Bruce apparently died saving Gotham City, after he said “goodbye” to Selina.
In the closing scene of The Dark Knight Rises, Bruce’s surrogate father Alfred, played by Michael Caine, smiles as he sees Bruce and Selina in a French café. They both knowingly nod. Christopher Nolan invents his new poignant epilogue in The Odyssey.
We don’t control anything in life. We just do the best we can to live. We love those, who we love, with all of our strength, all of our heart. That makes The Odyssey something very special. It’s the Best Movie of the Year, so far. It’s one of my favorite movies of the year, too.
