Echoes at Dawn

 

There is a bard 

Within me, 

I’m sure.

Struggling against 

The bondage, 

Bound by the skeleton 

Of the mind.

Yearning to break free, 

Fighting against 

The stupor 

Induced by wine

Mortified by the fear 

Of turning prosaic.

The bard hears 

His own songs, 

Reverberating through 

Dark innards, 

Reaching for light, 

Aching for release.

I hear them too, 

In sleep and dreams

Leaving no trace 

When I wake.

The Odyssey: Review

 Watched The Odyssey at last. Had this been directed by a rookie, I’d call it a well-made, watchable epic, but for Christopher Nolan, it’s a genuine letdown.

The film hyper-focuses on Odysseus at the expense of almost everyone else (save for Telemachus). Instead of rich mythic figures, the supporting cast is reduced to cardboard cutouts. And despite swallowing nearly three hours of runtime, Odysseus himself feels one-note: a brooding, repentant soldier - even honourable - reconciling with fate. Something Homer didn’t create him as. 

The media frenzy over the casting (Lupita Nyong’o and Elliot Page) feels almost absurd in hindsight - Lupita gets a scene and a half, and Page barely gets one. They, along with Zendaya and Charlize Theron, feel completely wasted and were clearly hired just to put big names on the poster. They have agreed too, only because of Nolan (and a fat paycheque). 

What keeps you in your seat is the raw talent on display. Matt Damon carries the weight well, Robert Pattinson steals scenes as Antinous, and Anne Hathaway brings competence to Penelope despite a criminal lack of screen time. On the flip side, Tom Holland feels like the cast's weak link.

Visually, the real-world locations are stunning (even if the visual effects barely pass muster). The background score by Ludwig Goransson works extremely well - blends with the narration and becomes a part of it unobtrusively. 

Recommended only for hardcore Nolan completists. Definitely not worth the steep markup for an IMAX ticket.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️