Category: Actors

Two Film Adaptations Based on Homer’s “Odyssey”

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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.

“Fatal Attraction” (2023) & “Presumed Innocent” (2024): Re-Imagining 1980s Thrillers

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Fatal Attraction (2023)

A deep-dive reimagining of the classic 1980s thriller, exploring timeless themes of marriage and infidelity through the lens of modern attitudes toward strong women, personality disorders and coercive control. -Synopsis

I was looking forward to this series, b/c was a fan of the 1987 movie. I reviewed the 1st ep earlier. I wanted to see more of the characters’ backstories (esp. Alex); one of the biggest criticisms of the movie is that Alex doesn’t have any friends or go to therapy. Dan (Joshua Jackson) is a family man who’s self-centered, arrogant, and aggressive in his work life (perhaps like IRL ADAs). Alex (Lizzy Caplan) is a loner (also new in town) who speaks w/ a flattened affect (perhaps more suited to Gen Z), but dedicated to helping others as a victim advocate. Their workday lives don’t look glam (like in the movie); rather, we see bland govt buildings of LA. Some viewers felt that Caplan is miscast; others found her BOTH creepy and (sometimes) sympathetic. There is little chemistry btwn the two leads; they’d fit better as friends. This made it hard to believe that Dan would risk his (seemingly happy) family life for Alex! The show has TOO many side characters, uninspiring dialogue, and V little plot development. This show aimed to be deep, esp. re: the father-daughter relationship; I don’t think it worked. And the odd choice of ending- wow- talk about random! If you still decide to check or out, let me know your thoughts.

Presumed Innocent (2024)

A horrific murder upends the Chicago Prosecuting Attorney’s’ office when one of its own is suspected of the crime. -Synopsis

Jake Gyllenhaal gets a LOT to do here as Rusty Sabich (originally played by Harrison Ford); he’s the deputy prosecutor of Chicago. He was assumed to succeed his older boss/friend, Raymond Horgan (Bill Camp) when he stepped down. Camp (a veteran character actor) and his IRL wife (Elizabeth Marvel) are great in their scenes together. However, the DA was ousted in a recent election; the new DA, Nico Della Guardia (O.T. Fagbenle), installs his own #2 man, Tommy Molto (Peter Sarsgard; also BIL of Gyllenhaal). Sarsgard embodies an awkward loner (w/ a huge chip on his shoulder) V well! Some viewers eventually found him sympathetic; he loves his cat. The action centers on the brutal murder of ADA Carolyn Polhemus (Norwegian actress Renate Reinsve; seen in flashbacks); she and Rusty were having an affair. Of course, Rusty becomes the prime suspect, then is shortly arrested!

I thought this series had some interesting moments (mainly in the courtroom); it’s V different (incl. the ending) from the 1990 movie. Barbara is played by Ruth Negga (Irish/Ethiopian); she works at an art gallery. In the movie, there was just one young son; here we have two intelligent/sensitive teens, Kyle (Kingston Runi Southwick), and Jaden (Chase Infiniti- before fame). Unfortunately, there is no chemistry btwn Gyllenhaal and Negga; they come off as sleepwalking through marriage. Or maybe that was the point? There is another teen added; you will have to watch to find out more. How did you think the (expanded/added) women characters were handled?

“Eden” (2024) starring Jude Law, Ana de Armas, Vanessa Kirby, Daniel Bruhl, & Sydney Sweeney

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Based on a factual account of a group of outsiders who settle on a remote island only to discover their greatest threat isn’t the brutal climate or deadly wildlife, but each other. -Synopsis

Ritter: Do not be fooled by our success, Herr Wittmer. No one else has been able to survive, because life here is gruesome, frustrating. Failure is inevitable.

The film is based on the true story of European settlers on Floreana Island in the Galápagos Islands (Ecuador) a few years before WWII. Freidrich Ritter (Jude Law) and his life partner, Dore Strauch (Vanessa Kirby), have spent 2 yrs. living alone on a remote island. FYI: Production took place primarily in Queensland, Australia. Friedrich focuses on writing his manifesto, while Dore resolves to cure her M.S. via meditation. One day, they’re joined by the eager/earnest Wittmer family: Heinz (Daniel Bruhl), his pre-teen son Harry, and his much younger 2nd wife, Margret (Sydney Sweeney). Shortly after arriving, Margret learns she is pregnant; the Wittmers (much to the chagrin of their neighbors) become capable farmers. This small community grows again when a young woman, Eloise (Ana de Armas), arrives w/ her two lovers: Robert (Toby Wallace) and Rudolph (Felix Kammerer), along w/ their Ecuadorian servant. Eloise (called Baroness) is vain, pretentious, and lives a hedonistic lifestyle. She also has a plan to build a lavish hotel on this land!

A cohesive theme gets marooned in Eden’s melodramatic dramatization of a colorful true story, but it does provide a starry cast and salacious thrills as compensation. -Rotten Tomatoes

This (hot mess) of a film (directed by Ron Howard- a former Oscar winner) had its world premiere at TIFF in Fall 2024; it had mixed reviews among critics. It sounds V intriguing on paper, BUT is uneven/ineffective in execution. We find two age-gap relationships, which is NOT rare for bougie societies of 1930s Europe. Law and Kirby make a hot pair, BUT their (sometimes) steamy scenes come off under-developed. (Some critics were surprised by how Howard tackled sensuality; he is NOT known for that.) Each actor performs as if he/she is in their own movie! I felt that Bruhl understood/portrayed his character well. De Armas’ character is annoying/unlikeable; the role was written as one-note. As for clueless/sad-eyed Sweeney, she puts on a weird accent and has an extensive birthing scene; I’m mystified by how casting agents/men find her appealing.

“Edge of the City” (1957) starring John Cassavetes, Sidney Poitier, Jack Warden, & Ruby Dee

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A railroad worker in New York forms a close bond with his African American coworker while they both endure harassment from their hostile supervisor. -Synopsis

A brooding/down-on-his luck man, Axel North (John Cassavetes- best known later as an indie director), comes to NYC and spends one night sleeping on the streets. In the morning, he runs into Tommy Tyler (Sydney Poitier), a Black man w/ a friendly personality, who helps him get a job. The men work on the docks as stevedores; the word comes from estivador (Portuguese) or estibador (Spanish)- a man who loads ships/stows cargo. Axel and Tommy (though of differing personalities) quickly become friends, though Axel is hesitant about opening up. Tommy, a family man, says that his neighborhood welcomes all backgrounds (as renters). A bitter/racist co-worker, Charles Malik (Jack Warden), manages to make their life difficult whenever he can!

Y’all ever seen this movie? It’s a hidden gem which tackles real issues in a naturalistic manner. I learned about it from a movie group on Fb. This was the debut of director Martin Ritt; he was best known for collabs w/ close pal Paul Newman (The Long Hot Summer, Paris Blues, and Hud). As classic film fans may recall, Paris Blues is also centered on an interracial friendship. Lucy (Tommy’s wife) is played by Ruby Dee; you can see her again as Poitier’s wife in A Raisin in the Sun (1961). Lucy and her (white) friend, Ellen (Kathleen Maguire), are both educated/progressive-minded women.

As an artist, I feel that we must try many things – but above all we must dare to fail. -John Cassavetes

John Nicholas Cassavetes was born in NYC in 1929; his father was an immigrant from Greece and his mother was 1st gen Greek-American. The family moved back to Greece in the early 1930s; young Cassavetes spoke Greek as his 1st language. The family moved back to the U.S. in 1936. As a teen, he wrote for his H.S. paper, and then attended college briefly in Vermont (before being expelled for bad grades). Soon after, Cassavetes enrolled at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts (AADA); several of his friends were already attending. After graduating, he began to perform on stage; he also appeared in minor roles in films/TV. After appearing in Edge of the City, Cassavetes gained critical acclaim; critics compared him to Marlon Brando. He then became a contract player for MGM.

[1] Martin Ritt’s first film offers an exceptional existentialist answer (three years later) to Elia Kazan’s more conservative “On The Waterfront.” […]

“Edge of the City” boldly dives into this (then) unknown territory… the courageous struggle against thinly-veiled bigotry and violence has hardly aged at all.

[2] The film’s low budget does show, but you’re so impressed with the ensemble cast you don’t really care. […]

…my personal favorite in this film is Ruby Dee. She should have gotten some award for her performance, her final scene with Cassavetes is outstanding.

[3] Cassavetes, always an intense actor, shows grit in his portrayal of a film. Am surprised that Montgomery Clift didn’t get this part.

Spoiler-Free Review: “No Other Choice” (2026) directed by Park Chan-wook

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A 40-something man, Man-su (Lee Byung-hun), works at a paper factory; his managerial job provides his family w/ a comfortable life. His wife, Miri (Son Ye-jin), is SAHM of two kids (a teen boy and young girl). All of the family members have hobbies/interests which enrich their lives. Their home is lovely and spacious- a blend of French country house (preferred by South Koreans in the ’70s/’80s) and brutalist architecture. Man-su has a large greenhouse and loves gardening. Abruptly, Man-su’s entire work team is downsized; he is forced to work random jobs for many mos. Desperate to get back his livelihood and pride, he forms a plan to beat the competition when a perfect job opens up!

During the 2019 Busan International Film Festival, director Park Chan-wook confirmed that he was adapting Donald Westlake’s 1997 horror novel, The Ax. At that time, Costa-Gavras held the rights (after adapting it in French in 2005); the Greek filmmaker assisted Park during development. No Other Choice was selected as South Korea’s official submission for Best International Feature Film at the 2026 Oscars. It was submitted to the 2025 Venice Film Fest and received critical acclaim. I went to a screening w/ the DC Movie Club at Alamo Drafthouse (Bryant St) this past Spring.

If you’re NOT facing job loss, I’m guessing you have fam or friends who’ve dealt w/ it (esp. in the past yr)! This film taps into many (IRL) concerns of the modern age: economic anxiety, loss of status (public/private), crisis of identity (incl. perceived diminishment of masculinity), and the rise of AI. Here we have a dark comedy w/ absurd (yet somewhat relatable) moments rooted in the intense desperation of Mansu (as well as other male characters in his position). We see how the genders respond to uncertainty; as one astute viewer pointed out: “None of the women say ‘no other choice.'” Check this movie out on Disney+/Hulu or HBOMAX. There are few (modern) directors who can surprise (jaded) audiences, make them think, as well as entertain w/ (unique) shots/ visuals!