World

Nolan's The Odyssey: Ambitious but Uneven, Says El País

Herz — World Desk · 15 July 2026 at 17:31 · 30s summary · 3 min read

The essentials

The review published on July 15, 2026 by El País describes Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey as ambitious but not extraordinary. An adaptation of Homer's epic poem, the film stars Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, and Samantha Morton in a casting judged flawless. Three sequences stand out: Polyphemus the Cyclops, Circe, and the Sirens. Ludwig Göransson's score and excessive editing are identified as the film's main weaknesses.

Nolan wrote the screenplay alone for this adaptation of Homer's epic poem
The cast—Damon, Holland, Hathaway, Pattinson, Zendaya, Morton—is judged flawless
Three standout sequences: Polyphemus the Cyclops, Circe (Morton), and the Sirens
Göransson's score and excessive editing weaken the film
Shot in IMAX 70mm and 35mm widescreen depending on venue

La Odisea de Nolan : ambitieux mais inégal selon la critique de El País — NASA/JPL/Corby Waste, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

What We Know

The review published on July 15, 2026 by El País describes Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey as ambitious but not extraordinary. A filmmaker known for The Dark Knight, Inception, Tenet, and Oppenheimer, Nolan adapts Homer's epic poem here and also writes the screenplay alone.

The film stars Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, and Samantha Morton. El País praises their collective performance as flawless.

Projection Format: IMAX 70mm or 35mm Depending on Venue

The Odyssey is shot and projected in two distinct formats: IMAX 70mm, with a nearly square 1:43.1 aspect ratio, and 35mm widescreen, with a 2:39.1 aspect ratio. Only a handful of cinemas worldwide have the IMAX 70mm configuration. The framing thus varies depending on where it is screened.

The press screening was not held in IMAX but on a textured 70mm screen. The review therefore reflects a different visual experience than what IMAX audiences will see.

A Criticized Score

The score is composed by Ludwig Göransson, a Swedish composer and music producer born on September 1, 1984, in Linköping. His relentless, deafening percussion is singled out by El País as undermining the film's visual compositions.

Sequences That Succeed

El País identifies three particularly successful moments. Canto IX, centered on Polyphemus the Cyclops, is described as moving and adventurous. Canto X, devoted to Circe, allows Samantha Morton to deliver a performance judged as remarkable.

Samantha Morton plays Circe, the goddess-sorceress from Canto X of Homer's poem. Her performance is presented by El País as likely to earn her praise and possibly awards.

Canto XII, dedicated to the Sirens, is praised for a contemporary take on siren songs. El País sees in it an inventive departure from Homer's original work.

Identified Weaknesses

Among the film's weak points, El País cites narrative dispersion and the Menelaus and Helen of Troy sequence, judged incomprehensible. Excessive editing denies images the space necessary for full visual impact.

What Remains Uncertain

The review is based on a press screening in standard 70mm, without IMAX configuration. The IMAX 70mm experience—available in a handful of theaters worldwide—was not evaluated by El País.

The potential for awards recognition for Samantha Morton remains a prospect raised by the critic, not an established certainty.

Who stars in Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey?

The film stars Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, and Samantha Morton. El País praises their collective performance as flawless.