Academic Emily Wilson Criticizes Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey

Emily Wilson, a prominent translator of Homer's The Odyssey, has published a scathing critique of Christopher Nolan's cinematic adaptation of the epic poem. Writing for the London Review of Books, Wilson described the blockbuster as grandiloquent and superficial, stating that she would have been ashamed to have written any part of the screenplay. The review, which exceeded 4,000 words, caused the London Review of Books website to crash temporarily and sparked a wider debate regarding the balance between commercial success and literary fidelity. This criticism comes as the film approaches 1 billion dollars in box office sales.

Wilson is the head of the Classical Studies department at the University of Pennsylvania and the first woman to translate The Odyssey from Ancient Greek into English. Her 2017 translation was praised for its modern approach and fidelity to the original text, though she has noted that departing from the masculine focus of previous translators led to online harassment from far right figures. Christopher Nolan had previously cited Wilson's translation as an influence during the promotion of the film.

Prior to the film's release, Wilson expressed excitement on The New York Times podcast The Daily, noting that the movie could encourage audiences who find ancient literature inaccessible to return to the original poem. She initially stated that it was valid for a director to explore his own vision. However, after viewing the film, she argued that the adaptation lacked psychological, emotional, political, and ethical depth. She compared the audiovisual spectacle to a Fourth of July fireworks display and criticized the writing and narrative structure. Wilson also raised criticisms regarding Nolan's casting choices, specifically mentioning actors such as Zendaya and Lupita Nyong’o.