Reviews for Christopher Nolan's new epic, "The Odyssey," have been released, with considerable attention focused on Tom Holland's performance as Telemachus, the son of Odysseus. While the film itself has garnered widespread praise, Holland's casting and his interpretation of the character have been met with criticism from several reviewers.
Critics have taken issue with Nolan's decision to modernize the dialogue and deviate from Homer's ancient epic. Danny Leigh of the Financial Times noted that Holland's use of contemporary language, such as the word "dad," was jarring. Leigh described Holland's performance as "comic-book basic," contrasting it with more vivid portrayals like Lupita Nyong'o's Helen of Troy.
David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter echoed these sentiments, calling Holland's casting "questionable." He observed that while Holland is an appealing screen presence, he seemed ill-suited for the role, coming across as "Peter Parker in a tunic" and diminishing the gravitas of Telemachus's journey. Stephanie Zacharek of Time found the actor "so bland he’s practically unreadable," and Hoai-Tran Bui of Inverse stated that Holland's Telemachus, while a "solid foundation," suffered from being merely being "just fine."
Adding to the criticism, some reviewers pointed to Holland's American accent, despite being a British actor, as a detractor. Rooney specifically mentioned that the accent sapped the character's maturity.
However, not all reviews were negative. Gregory Nussen of Deadline offered a dissenting opinion, calling Holland's performance "his strongest one to date." Nussen felt Holland's portrayal was tinged with "courageous naivety" and demonstrated a "newfound maturity," despite playing a younger character.
Director Christopher Nolan has defended his stylistic choices, explaining his focus on using language with "emotional not intellectual meaning." He acknowledged a degree of naivete in his approach, aiming for an "earthy narrative" and calling the use of contemporary language "a no-brainer."
Holland himself defended the use of the word "dad," arguing it was no less accurate than more formal alternatives. He revealed that his wife and co-star Zendaya persuaded him to take the role, joking she would leave him if he declined. Securing the part involved Holland persuading Sony Pictures to shift production dates for "Spider-Man," a feat he attributed to Nolan's influence.
"The Odyssey" is scheduled for release on July 17. The film boasts a large ensemble cast, including Matt Damon as Odysseus and Anne Hathaway as Penelope, alongside Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong'o, Charlize Theron, and Zendaya.