THE ODYSSEY
THE ODYSSEY Isn't even as good as 2004's TROY. As the world goes crazy about this movie, let that sink in. This movie, which is being reviewed as one of the greatest cinematic masterpieces of all time, isn't even as good as the 8TH BIGGEST MOVIE OF 2004!
Seriously, you can do this test yourself. As soon as you get out of the theater from watching Christopher Nolan's movie, go home and load up Troy starring Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, Sean Bean, Orlando Bloom, Diane Kruger and the wonderful Peter O'Toole among others. Directed by a true legend Wolfgang Petersen, TROY feels like a way bigger epic than THE ODYSSEY. It has better dialogue, better acting and a way more compelling story. Watch them both and tell me that you didn't enjoy TROY better.
And how many awards did TROY win at the Academy? NONE -- it was nominated for best costume design and lost to THE AVIATOR. Nolan's ODYSSEY is going to sweep up this year because he made sure he checked the boxes. Matt Damon will win Best Actor, E. Page will win Best Supporting Actor and it will win Best Picture and probably 7 or 8 other categories... but it's not even better than TROY. Hell, it's not even the best movie this year. PROJECT HAIL MARY will get a bone or 2 at the Oscars, but it wasn't considered THE GLOBAL MOVIE TRIUMPH that THE ODYSSEY is.
But hey, that is Hollywood and I shouldn't be shocked, right? That is not what shocks me. It's how audiences seem to feel about this film. They've been led to believe they just watched an instant classic and like lemmings have listened to their media overlords and will now jump off the cliff with the rest of them clicking on the 5 star review. Did Covid do that much damage to the Entertainment industry? Have we become a movie going audience with amnesia? 2 or 3 good scenes do not make a classic.
THE ODYSSEY is going to make a ton of money, and people are going to use that to justify how great it is. But before you proclaim this the EPIC ACHIEVEMENT of Nolan's career, I would suggest taking the TROY test. And ask yourself... did Nolan really make a great movie when you consider everything... Cinematography, acting, dialogue, story? Hell, if you are being honest Armand Assante's 1997 Odyssey miniseries is even better. Demand more from your movies... You are paying for them.
