Hoyte Van Hoytema – ALLIANCE OF WOMEN FILM JOURNALISTS

THE ODYSSEY – Review by Susan Granger

July 16, 2026August 2, 2026 Susan Granger Anne Hathaway, charlize theron, Christopher Nolan, Homer, Hoyte Van Hoytema, John Leguizamo, Lupita Nyong'o, matt damon, Robert Pattinson, Ruth De Jong, The Odyssey, Tom Holland, zendaya

Characterized by mythic storytelling, extravagant production values and brawny heroes, sword-and-sandals movies (“Ben-Hur,” “Spartacus,” “Gladiator”) have enjoyed tremendous popularity. Add The Odyssey to that list. British filmmaker Christopher Nolan, collaborating with Dutch cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema and production designer Ruth De Jong, envisions Homer’s nearly 3,000-year-old, nonlinear epic poem as a weary Greek warrior’s tortuous journey home. Filled with challenges and conflict, it can be viewed as an exciting, episodic adventure saga or, delving deeper, as an allegory about the consequences of temptation in a man’s spiritual quest for identity and enlightenment.

Reviews

NOPE – Review by Susan Granger

August 3, 2022August 3, 2022 Susan Granger Daniel Kaluuya, Hoyte Van Hoytema, Jordan Peele, Keke Palmer, Nope, Steven Yuen

After huge success with Get Out followed by Us, Jordan Peale tackles a sci-fi/Western/horror story, set in Southern California’s picturesque Agua Dulce, where “O.J.” Haywood Jr. (Daniel Kaluuya) and his sister Emerald (Keke Palmer) are trying to continue a family tradition. Peale is a bit too subtle this time because, while there’s plenty of tension, often evoked by Hoyte Van Hoytema’s striking cinematography and Michael Abels’ score, the stakes are pretty low.

Reviews

NOPE – Review by T. J. Callahan

July 19, 2022July 24, 2022 T. J. Callahan Daniel Kaluuya, Hoyte Van Hoytema, Jordan Peele, Keke Palmer, Nope, Steven Yuen

In his third film, writer, director, producer Jordan Peele sticks with the delivery of ample servings of horror and mystery that earned him a seat at the big kid’s table, but adds a healthy sprinkle of spicy Sci Fi as he kicks it up a notch with NOPE. Set in the mountainous desert north of Los Angeles, NOPE is about brother and sister horse wranglers who believe aliens have camped out in a cloud over their family’s ranch. When they decide to get video of the creepy occurrences to cash in on the phenomenon, they get more than they bargained for.