Charlize Theron and Matt Damon attended the premiere of Christopher Nolan's film "The Odyssey" in Beijing, China on Thursday. Theron, who portrays Calypso in the film, appeared in two distinct outfits: a plunging black statement gown and a fringed gold ensemble.
The black gown featured a silver lace trim and was paired with strappy heels. For a subsequent meet-and-greet, she wore a sheer gold dress. Damon, who stars as the titular hero Odysseus, opted for two dapper suits.
"The Odyssey" is an adaptation of Homer's ancient Greek epic poem. The story follows Odysseus's journey home after the Trojan War to reunite with his wife, Penelope. Anne Hathaway plays Penelope, and Tom Holland portrays Telemachus, Odysseus's son.
Christopher Nolan's adaptation has garnered significant critical attention, achieving a 99 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics have praised the film's ambition and cinematic execution. Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian described it as "a breathtaking epic of men, monsters and moral metamorphosis," while Robbie Collin of The Telegraph called it "a strange, fearsome and trailblazing machine of a movie."
Some reviews have noted deviations from the source material and modernizations in dialogue. John Nugent of Empire pointed out that while the film is an economical adaptation, "some purists may bristle at the liberties taken with the text, with significant omissions." Mary Beard, writing for The Times, commented on the contemporary references, such as Telemachus referring to Odysseus as "Dad."
Casting choices have also been a subject of discussion. Nolan defended his decision to cast Lupita Nyong'o as Helen of Troy following historical accuracy criticisms. While some critics, like David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter, found Tom Holland's casting as Telemachus questionable, others, including Gregory Nussen of Deadline, praised his performance as "his strongest one to date."
The performances of the female cast members have been highlighted. Clarisse Loughrey of The Independent noted that "the women (among them Anne Hathaway and Samantha Morton) who steal the show." Financial Times critic Danny Leigh praised Nyong'o's "vivid and bristling" performance.
Despite widespread acclaim, not all reviews were positive. Stephanie Zacharek of Time described "The Odyssey" as an "eye-glazing dud of a movie," citing the battle scenes as lacking stakes despite their elaboration.