MOVIE REVIEW: THE ODYSSEY

By: Kimberly Grant

I struggled with this review of The Odyssey.  I couldn’t figure out where to begin.  Should I start with the feminist messaging?  Should I point out the obvious parallels between Zeus’ law and the laws of Moses and teachings of Jesus?  Or should I address that the entire movie isn’t about war.  It’s about war bringing out man’s inhumanity in a quest for greed?

Feminism Under Attack

These days, weak men whisper “feminist” like it’s a dirty word.  The Manosphere has gotten to them and made them regurgitate misogynist doctrine like it’s fact, instead of puppetry.  In The Odyssey, which is totally a guy’s movie, Odysseus (played by Matt Damon) and his men are just trying to get home to Ithaca after winning the Trojan War.  What they did during that war will seal their fates for the journey home.

Supposedly, the war was launched in the name of Helen of Troy.  But if you pay attention, you will see it wasn’t about Helen or love.  It was about greed. 

Once again, women are being blamed for the mistakes of men.  In war, the women suffer the most.  Odysseus’ wife, Penelope (Anne Hathaway), has to suffer men who want to take her husband’s place and sit on the throne of Ithaca.  Apparently, women can’t rule alone.  (Someone forgot to tell Queen Elizabeth II.)

Then there’s Helen (Lupita Nyong’o) who pays a physical price for the war started in her name, which includes her marriage to Menelaus (Jon Bernthal).  And, then there’s Agamenon’s (Benny Safdie) wife and daughter who are sacrificed for his conquest.  He never even gives a thought to how his conquest will affect them.

Drawing Christian Inspiration for Greek Mythology

Zeus is the main god of the film, but there are correlations to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  Zeus is a benevolent being that tells his people to do good unto others.  Whether they listen is another thing entirely. 

The film includes the teachings of Zeus, but can also be found in biblical scriptures.  Here are some biblical scriptures, whose context make it into the film as a part of Zeus’ laws.  “…Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me” (Matthew 25:40).  “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by do doing some have unwittingly entertained angels” (Hebrews 13:2). “And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise” (Luke 6:31).  Examples of all three are seen when characters provide hospitality to strangers and treat them with respect as a way of honoring Zeus’ laws.

War: What Is It Good For?  Absolutely Nothing.

The fictional Trojan War was a defining moment for many men in this story.  The same is true for real life men and women when it comes to war.  Even if groups of people live in prosperity, there will inevitably be those who aren’t content.  They want more.

Most wars are started because of the greed of powerful people.  They already have and they want more.  More wealth.  More land.  More prestige.  They never think about the human cost.  The Odyssey takes an unflinching look at what war does to regular everyday people like you and me.  Attacked in their homes.  The loss of loved ones and property.  The unshakable fear that you could lose everything in a matter of minutes.  And the long-held feeling that home is a safe space is obliterated.

The soldiers suffer, too.  Some lose their lives.  Some lose their sanity.  Some lose their humanity.  The ones without humanity tap into their animalistic side as a coping mechanism and don’t know how to control it.  As it’s mentioned in the film, this inhumanity makes a great soldier, but not necessarily a good person. 

And there are people like Antinous (Robert Pattinson).  He’s, for lack of a better phrase, a draft dodger.  He tricks his way out of the Trojan War, then pretends that he’s protecting Ithaca.  What he actually does is slither into a space, standing on the shoulders of those who actually put in the work.  He’s a coward.  His legacy is to be a schemer in the shadows and someone who stays on the sidelines of a fight.

So, it’s safe to say that war will also reveal a man’s true nature.

An Epic

Just in case it’s not obvious, The Odyssey is an epic must-watch film.  While it’s all fiction packaged as a whopping two hours and 52 minutes film, the allegorical themes are on brand for society’s current climate.  Unfortunately, not much has changed since Homer’s The Odyssey was written several years before the birth of Christ.

Screenwriter and director Christopher Nolan deserves all the accolades coming his way for this opus.  The story is told in a fresh way.  There are tons of hidden gems.  The film is beautifully shot.  The cast is multi-cultural; this is Greek mythology, after all.

And there’s a who’s who of acting talent.  Tom Holland as Odysseus’ and Penelope’s son Telemachus, Zendaya as Athena, Corey Hawkins as potential Penelope suitor Polybus, John Leguizamo as loyal farmer Eumaeus, Elliot Page as Soldier Sinon, Jovan Adepo as Soldier Elpenor, Logan Marshall-Green as schemer Melanthius, Nick Tarabay as Pilot, Charlize Theron as Calypso, Will Yun Lee Soldier Anchialus, Samantha Morton as Circe, and Travis Scott as the bard of Ithaca.  Even though The Odyssey is a fable, it’s still a cautionary tale about the collapse of humanity because of man’s inhumanity.  And, it’s art imitating life.

Click here to read more review written by Kimberly Grant.