‘The Odyssey’ Critics React to No Intermission in Christopher Nolan’s Epic

Christopher Nolan has established himself as a master of grand, immersive films that challenge audiences, and his adaptation of Homer’s ancient tale, ‘The Odyssey’, is no exception. Filmed entirely in IMAX across stunning locations such as Morocco, Greece, Italy, Scotland, Iceland, Western Sahara, and Malta, ‘The Odyssey’ debuted in theaters on July 17, marking one of the most ambitious projects of Nolan’s career. With a runtime that rivals some of his most extensive works, viewers have been left pondering one practical question as they prepare for showtimes.

This question revolves around bathroom breaks and whether there will be a designated time for them during the film. ‘The Odyssey’ boasts a staggering budget of 250 million dollars and features a star-studded cast led by Matt Damon as Odysseus, alongside Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Zendaya, and Charlize Theron. Given the film’s scale and length, many assumed Nolan would adhere to the classic Hollywood practice of incorporating an intermission.

However, he did not. The film runs a substantial two hours and fifty-two minutes without any scheduled breaks, and critics quickly took note. One review from the Jerusalem Film Festival humorously remarked that the real challenge of watching ‘The Odyssey’ is figuring out the best moment to sneak out for a restroom break, as the film plays continuously without interruption. The review suggested leaving right after the Circe sequence or just as Odysseus finally arrives in Ithaca, reasoning that those watching with you can fill you in with just a few whispered words.

Criticism regarding the lack of an intermission was widespread. A Boston Globe review pointed out that even Cecil B. DeMille, a director known for his epic three-hour films, ensured audiences had an intermission to avoid discomfort. The review suggested that Nolan could have benefited from a bit of that classic showmanship, both in pacing and in providing the audience with a breather.

Part of the reasoning behind this decision seems to be technical rather than artistic. Nolan filmed the entire movie using IMAX cameras, which come with a strict three-hour limit due to the physical platter and projection system required for the large film prints. Nolan has mentioned that exceeding this three-hour limit would necessitate a complete overhaul of the projection system, which simply wasn’t feasible for this release. This limitation is significant, considering Nolan has only surpassed the three-hour mark once before with ‘Oppenheimer’, while films like ‘Interstellar’ just fell short at 249 minutes.

Regardless of whether audiences agree with the no-intermission decision, it appears to be a deliberate outcome of Nolan’s dedication to shooting on film rather than an oversight. For now, moviegoers planning to see ‘The Odyssey’ should carefully consider their concession and bathroom timing, as there will be no scheduled stops until Odysseus reaches his destination.

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