SerpApi.Org
After much speculation, Christopher Nolan's The Odysseyfinally premiered in theaters on July 17. The film has already grossed $264 million at the worldwide box office, quickly surpassing its lavish $250 million budget. Not only is the film a technical masterpiece, but it has already become iconic thanks to its massive A-lister ensemble. With big names such as Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, and many more, it’s no surprise that the movie has some of the best performances of recent years.
Of course, among many excellent actors, some performances still stood out from the rest. Matt Damon, as Odysseus himself, dominates the film and commands the screen. However, other actors with much smaller roles, such as Samantha Morton and John Leguizamo, positively surprised the audience and left long-lasting impressions.
Robert Pattinson Is Brilliant as The Odyssey’s Antagonist
Playing Penelope’s most aggressive and deceitful suitor, Antinous, Robert Pattinson shines as one of the main antagonists in The Odyssey. As a teen, Antinous tricked his shepherd's son, Sinon, into going to the Trojan War instead of him. When he grows up, he is one of the many suitors taking advantage of Zeus’s law to feast at Penelope’s expense, pressuring her into choosing a suitor after Odysseus’ long absence. Antinous is clever, duplicitous, and greedy. He only wants to marry Penelope to steal Ithaca’s throne from the righteous heir, Telemachus, and tries to manipulate her into thinking he is the best choice.
Robert Pattinson’s brilliant performance makes the audience loathe Antinous. While talking to Penelope, the character tries to be charming and persuasive, but Pattinson makes him look untrustworthy at the same time. This is combined with his disrespectful attitude towards Eumaeus and violent threats to Telemachus. One of Pattinson’s best moments happens at the end of the film, when he manages to look both arrogant and scared as Odysseus, disguised as a beggar, succeeds at stringing the bow. Antinous's downfall is delicious to watch, and it’s all thanks to Pattinson's incredible ability to balance the character’s ridiculous pride and cowardice without making him laughable.
Anne Hathaway Perfectly Showcases Penelope’s Inner Strength
From the moment Anne Hathaway was announced as Penelope, Odysseus’s persevering wife and Queen of Ithaca, it was clear she was the right choice for the role. Hathaway has won several nominations throughout her amazing career, earning several awards for her outstanding job in Les Misérables, including an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. What’s more, this isn’t the first time Hathaway works with Christopher Nolan, as she also appears in 2014’s Interstellar and 2012’s The Dark Knight Rises.
Even amidst "botox" allegations, now that The Odyssey premiered, Anne Hathaway surpassed everyone's expectations. She portrayed Penelope as both vulnerable and strong. As a woman with very few rights, Penelope is being cornered into marrying a man she doesn’t love as she keeps grieving her husband's absence. Of course, she believes in her husband’s return and postpones the unwanted marriage as much as possible. At the same time, she also has to protect her son, Telemachus. She is in an impossible position, and Hathaway does a terrific job of showcasing Penelope’s strength in the face of fear: she stands tall while hesitating, and she’s regal while heartbroken. She also shows great chemistry with Matt Damon in their love scenes and manages to be both caring and stern as Telemachus’ mother.
John Leguizamo Was the Emotional Axis of the Movie
John Leguizamo has had a versatile career, standing out in comedy, drama, and action, and even dabbling in voice acting, so it was not a surprise he gave such a great performance as Eumaeus in The Odyssey. A blind swineherd who remains Odysseus’ loyal servant, Eumaeus takes care of his old dog Argos and gives Telemachus wise advice as they wait for his master's return. He is one of the first to learn about Odysseus’ return, and he warns him about the suitors. While he is blind, Eumaeus is very aware of the power dynamics at play in Ithaca, and despite threats to his life, he stands by Telemachus's and Odysseus's side.
Eumaeus might seem like a secondary character, but he is the film's emotional anchor. He is the direct recipient of the suitors’ bullying, so his loyalty stands in stark contrast to the other Ithacan men's greed. His compassionate nature particularly stands out in contrast to Antinous’s unnecessary violence. Leguizamo’s performance gave Eumaeus a quiet resilience that made him extremely likable to the audience, turning him into one of the reasons Antinous’ defeat is so rewarding at the end of the film.
Samantha Morton Made Circe’s Rage Come To Life
With only a couple of scenes in the almost 3-hour-long film, Samantha Morton’s made this film hers. Morton's performance in The Odyssey is already a fan-favorite and one of the most talked-about moments. Mainly known for her iconic work in The Walking Dead, Morton is an actress with plenty of accolades, including two BAFTAs, a Golden Globe Award, and two Academy Award nominations, so it isn't surprising that she fully brought one of the most iconic characters in The Odyssey to life. After many dangerous encounters, when Odysseus and his crew arrive on the island of Aeaea, the men meet their strangest hardship yet: the witch Circe.
After receiving a great scare from Eurylochus, who enters her home without any preamble, Circe welcomes Odysseus’s men into her home and feeds them. However, she has an agenda. Circe has the men right where she wants them, and as they desperately and grotesquely feast on her food, she starts transforming them into pigs with her bare hands -- revealing what she believes to be their true nature. Morton’s Circe looks delighted and enraged all at the same time, sculpting the men’s heads with mastery and ruthlessness. While terrifying and bizarre, the scene allowed Morton to showcase her exquisite acting skills and has people begging Nolan to delve into horror already. Hopefully the director will bring Morton back onto the screen if that ever happens.
Matt Damon Carries the Film from Beginning to End
The Odyssey is, after all, the telling of Odysseus’ journey, so it was essential for Matt Damon to stand up to the role to carry such an ambitious film. This is without a doubt one of the best Damon performances. He embodies a strong and clever man, but also a flawed hero. After his brilliant invention wins the Trojan War, Odysseus needs to confront the consequences of his own actions and how they impact the way he sees the world. This takes him through several challenges in a 10-year-long journey that ends with him losing all of his crew and almost losing himself.
Throughout The Odyssey, the audience sees several sides of Odysseus. He is a devoted lover to Penelope, a grounded king to Ithaca, and a sensible leader to his crew. However, he can also be scheming, unscrupulous, and vengeful. He orchestrates the Trojan Horse and sacrifices Sinon in this task, betraying his trust. Soon enough, he sees how his actions cost the lives of many innocent people, including the girl represented in Athena’s image.
He stubbornly takes his crew onto an alternative and unknown path to Ithaca that leads them to death despite his best intentions. What’s more, he shoots Polyphemus, the Cyclops, in the eye, which costs the lives of many of his crew. However, despite all his failings, Odysseus remains likable and the audience roots for him to return home. Odysseus's guilt deviates from the original text, but it makes the character more compelling for modern audiences. This is thanks to Damon’s grounded and well-developed performance, as he conveys all the deep emotions of a man who can’t undo his mistakes.
