Christopher Nolan Earns Rave Reviews For New Film About Powderfinger’s 4th Studio Album

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Off the back of his Oscar-winning Oppenheimer (2024) - it appears that Hollywood's most bankable director has done it again.

Media representatives taking part in the press junket for his newest feature film, titled ODYSSEY, have described Christopher Nolan's new project as “flawless filmmaking” and a “staggering achievement” with growing buzz by the day.

The story behind ODYSSEY was unfamiliar terrain for Nolan, who made a name for himself telling stories that revolve around the psychological underpinnings of metaphysical subject matter.

As the seventh highest-grossing film director of all time, many assumed that Nolan would perhaps return to his well-worn template of big budget science fiction thrillers.

However, it seems that the 55-year-old is back revisiting the non-fiction genre, while also joining the new wave of musical biopics.

Nolan has always maintained the influence that science fiction films like 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) have had on his work, however, it wasn't until the trailer to his newest film was released that he revealed his fascination with the other 'Odyssey'.

That is, 'Odyssey Number Five' - the fourth studio album from the iconic Brisbane rock band, Powderfinger.

Known for the iconic Queensland rock anthems "My Happiness" and "These Days" - Nolan says the story of Odyssey Number Five was a biopic waiting to happen.

Following the story of former grade cricket legend turned Australian rock stalwart, Bernard Fanning, as his band edges on the precipice of rock superstardom. ODYSSEY

Ethereal images of wild stallions feature heavily in the film's artwork, representing Brisbane's iconic rugby league team, The Brisbane Broncos.

ODYSSEY is set in suburban Brisbane at the turn of the millennium, as the Queensland capital begins shaking off it's 'big country town' image and begins asserting itself as an international city.

As a result, some reviewers were surprised when the film’s various trailers let it slip that Nolan’s characters speak contemporary English dialogue in mostly American accents. The creative decision sparked intense discourse on social media, one that Nolan has addressed publicly.

Nolan said that as the film’s screenwriter, he wanted to prioritise “language that has emotional not intellectual meaning to people.” This is why the characters in Nolan’s “Odyssey” speak in contemporary English dialogue and not 'the nasally early 2000s Queenslandese'

Early reviews praised Nolan 'not shying away from some of the horror of Queensland life at the height of John Howard.

Bernard Fanning is played by Irish actor Barry Keoghan, while Western Australian actor Meyne Wyatt has been praised for his stunning performance as Fanning's close friend and collaborator, Anthony 'The Man' Mundine.