It’s one of modern Hollywood’s oldest tales, but no matter how many times audiences hear it, the story can still set hearts racing.
A bunch of people have seen the new Christopher Nolan movie, and it turns out that they really like it.
Yes, on the same day as the world premiere of Nolan’s epic retelling of Homer’s The Odyssey, the first reactions to the film have hit social media. Some hay was made last week about Universal Picture’s decision to not hold influencer screenings, instead allowing actual film journalists and critics to get a chance to weigh in as a part of the initial discourse — and perhaps lending more credence to the early hype.
Well, when the social media embargo lifted on The Odyssey, the reactions were no less rapturous. Words like “flawless” and “perfection” abounded in the first wave of mini reviews, many of which came from the same hyperbole generators typically active around other major studio releases.
Those looking for a bit more nuance will have to wait until the full-length review embargo lifts next week, but true to Universal’s designs, there are some deeper critical takes sprinkled into the conversation.
IndieWire’s David Ehrlich called The Odyssey “a surprisingly natural (and less despairing) Oppenheimer follow-up about a man haunted by defying the gods & dooming civilization — this one fights to avenge his own hubris. Imax obviously immense. Too clunky to be S-tier Nolan, but the last act rewards the journey.”
Early as it may be for the awards conversation as it relates to a movie that has just lifted its social media embargo, the uniformity of the reaction to Nolan’s The Odyssey suggests that we have a contender on our hands. Considering Nolan’s stature within the industry, the Oscar count for Oppenheimer, and the scale that he appears to be attempting with his latest, The Odyssey has essentially one bar to clear in order to be a player in next year’s conversation: Be good.
The first reactions would appear to confirm that Nolan and The Odyssey have met that standard, but judge for yourself from this selection of quick takes.
