The Odyssey (2026)
After the Trojan War, Odysseus faces a dangerous voyage back to Ithaca, meeting creatures like the Cyclops (Polyphemus), the Sirens, and Calypso along the way. -Synopsis
What can I say that hasn’t been said before re: this (mega-hit) movie!? Well, as a South Asian raised mostly in the US, I was V surprised (and impressed) by the prominence of the character played by Himesh Patel. He has been acting for many years (came up in a British soap opera) and played Odysseus’ BFF, Eurylochus. This is the 1st time I was impressed by Robert Pattinson (no joke- never got his appeal); he played Penelope’s main suitor- Antinous. The supporting actors who really “stole the show” (IMO) were Samantha Morton (Circe- who is re-imagined from Homer’s story) and John Leguizamo (Eumaeus- blind slave/swineherd to Odysseus). As I learned (via IG reels), the background players (incl. Shiloh Fernandez and Michael Vlamis) come from various fields: cosplay, dance, martial arts, directing, etc. When Christopher Nolan calls, everyone gets on the boat- literally!
[1] What I appreciated most was how immersive it felt. For a film that’s nearly three hours long, I never found myself checking my phone or thinking about anything else. It was gripping from start to finish.
[2] Only question mark for me: why does Odysseus remind me of an American war veteran with PTSD?
Again, I know it is an adaptation made with creative freedom but Homer’s Odysseus is prideful and ruthless, and from what I can tell, in this movie we only see glimpses of that.
-Excerpts from IMDb reviews
The Return (2024)
After 20 years, Odysseus finally returns to Ithaca, where he finds his wife held prisoner by suitors vying to be king and his son facing death at their hands. To win back his family and all he has lost, Odysseus must rediscover his strength. -Synopsis
This film (directed by Uberto Pasolini) is the 1st time in almost 30 yrs that Ralph Fiennes (Odysseus) and Juliette Binoche (Penelope) have acted together. They previously appeared together in Wuthering Heights (1992) and The English Patient (1996). Pasolini (who is Italian) directed the British/indie/hit comedy, The Full Monty (1997). Filming took place on the Greek island of Corfu. The Chlemoutsi castle in the region of Ilía in Western Peloponnese appears as the palace of Odysseus.
Penelope: How can men find their way to war but not find their way home?
Odysseus: For some, war becomes home.
Wow, this movie actually had (Greek) actors! This is a small slice of the famed myth by Homer for a mature audience. What stood out for me were the gorgeous locations and the sense of authenticity. Unlike in the other recent film, Antinous (played by Dutch-Tunisian actor Marwan Kenzari) was tortured by his unrequited love for Penelope.
