The Odyssey (2026): A Film I Admired More Than I Loved

Christopher Nolan and I have a slightly complicated relationship.

I never really clicked with Inception and Interstellar left me rather cold, so The Odyssey wasn’t a film I had been counting down the days to see.

In truth, if I hadn’t been organising this month’s Townswomen’s Guild Cinema Club, I probably wouldn’t have booked a ticket.

I’m very glad I did.

Like many people of a certain age, my introduction to The Odyssey came through translating passages from it in Latin lessons at school. That meant I already knew the broad outline of the story, although my teenage self was probably more worried about wrestling with the translation than appreciating Homer’s storytelling.

Seeing it brought to life on the big screen gave me an entirely different perspective.

An Epic Told Up Close

When you think of The Odyssey, it’s easy to picture vast oceans, mythical creatures and sweeping battle scenes.

Those moments are certainly there, and the cinematography is beautiful, but what surprised me most was how intimate so much of the film felt. Rather than constantly stepping back to admire the scale, Nolan often brings you right into the action. Even during some of the film’s biggest set pieces, the camera stays remarkably close to the characters, making the story feel surprisingly personal.

It felt less like watching a legend unfold and more like experiencing one alongside the people living through it.

The storytelling was good, the cast was excellent throughout, the sound design was fantastic and every scene felt beautifully put together. It never felt like spectacle for spectacle’s sake, which I appreciated.

The One Character I Was Most Worried About…

I knew the story.

I knew exactly what was coming.

Didn’t matter.

The moment Argos appeared, my brain immediately switched from “film critic” to “husky owner”.

If anything had happened to that dog unexpectedly, I was genuinely prepared to walk out.

Now, this isn’t a new phenomenon. I still can’t get past I Am Legend. I’ve never actually watched the first John Wick, despite thoroughly enjoying the rest of the franchise, because… well… the dog. And let’s not even start on Lassie.

Of course, anyone familiar with Homer knows Argos’ story is one of the most moving moments in the entire epic. After waiting faithfully for twenty years, he finally recognises his master has come home and only then lets go.

It’s incredibly sad, but it’s also rather beautiful.

As someone who came home to Jasper afterwards, it lingered with me long after the credits rolled.

Ancient Story, Timeless Questions

What stayed with me even more than the mythology were the ideas running beneath it.

Power.

Leadership.

The cost of war.

The meaning of home.

What happens when those in authority disappear.

Whether those themes come directly from Homer or through Nolan’s interpretation, they felt remarkably relevant without ever feeling forced.

There were moments that felt quietly political and social, and I found myself reflecting on those just as much as the story itself.

A Packed Cinema… Again

One thing we’ve noticed through our Townswomen’s Guild Cinema Club visits is just how busy our local cinema has become.

Every visit seems to be busier than the last, and The Odyssey was no exception. The screen was packed.

Considering how often we hear that cinema is struggling, that’s certainly not what we’re experiencing locally. It’s actually rather lovely to see.

The Walk Home

One of my favourite parts of Cinema Club isn’t always the film itself.

It’s the walk home afterwards.

The four of us spent the journey back animatedly discussing the performances, the storytelling, the scale of the production and what we’d all taken away from it.

For me, that’s always a good sign.

A film doesn’t have to become a personal favourite to be worthwhile. If you’re still talking about it all the way home, it’s probably done something right.

Final Thoughts

Would I have chosen to see The Odyssey on my own?

Probably not.

Am I glad Cinema Club gave me the excuse?

Absolutely.

I admired this film more than I loved it, and I’m perfectly happy with that.

It’s beautifully made, thoughtfully told and full of excellent performances. More than anything, it reminded me that sometimes the films you remember most aren’t necessarily the ones you enjoyed the most. They’re the ones that spark a conversation, make you think and stay with you after you’ve left the cinema.

This was one of those films.



This review is part of our monthly Townswomen’s Guild Cinema Club. Each month we choose a film, head to our local cinema and then spend the walk home putting the world to rights over what we’ve just watched.