The Odyssey: An epic masterpiece

The Odyssey (2026) • View trailerFive stars (out of five); rated R, for violence, gore, dramatic intensity and profanityAvailable via: Movie theatersBy Derrick Bang • Published in The Davis Enterprise, 7.19.26Not many screenwriters get to share a credit with Homer. And Christopher Nolan is one of very few directors up to the challenge of the ancient Greek poet’s classic work. Warriors three: Odysseus (Matt Damon, center), Cepheus (Jimmy Gonzales, left) andEurylochus (Himesh Patel) survey what's left of Troy, following their successfulsiege of the city.This is epic filmmaking on a truly grand scale, which is the only way to present a saga that has it all: gods and goddesses, men and monsters, full-scale battles, perilous sea voyages, and dastardly palace intrigue. Granted, Nolan skips some events, and minimizes the list of involved deities, but only scholars intimately familiar with Homer’s fabled poem will notice.Nolan wisely holds our attention, during this three-hour masterpiece, by…