Emily Wilson, a distinguished translator of Homer's The Odyssey and a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, has delivered a severe critique of Christopher Nolan's recent film adaptation. Wilson described the movie as "confused" and "abysmal," arguing that it fails to capture the essential themes of the ancient epic.
In an assessment published in the London Review of Books, Wilson initially noted the film's accessibility as a "family-friendly audiovisual spectacle." However, she quickly contrasted this with what she perceived as a shallow narrative and emotional core, likening it to "an elaborate Fourth of July fireworks display." Her criticism intensified as she elaborated on the film's shortcomings.
"The film's vision is too confused, its characters too underdeveloped, to deliver what it half-promises in terms of big ideas – although it is very good at conveying big bangs and big giants," Wilson stated. She expressed dismay at the script, particularly after Nolan had referenced her translation in previous discussions about the film. "I would be ashamed to have written any part of this script," she remarked, adding that the portrayal of Odysseus was neither "complicated" nor "wily."
Wilson's review pointed to a significant departure from the poem's depth, noting the film's lack of compelling commentary on "time, memory, history, war, or about the relationship between one warrior's glorious return and the lives of his family, adversaries, comrades, friends and neighbors." She further contended that the movie lacks "psychological, emotional, political and ethical depth," features a "gimmicky" narrative structure, and suffers from "abysmal" writing with unconvincing character motivations. Wilson also observed the absence of sex scenes and remarked on the unappealing depiction of food.
Despite her harsh literary assessment, Wilson acknowledged the film's success in drawing audiences back to theaters. She expressed gratitude that a large-scale production could potentially reignite public interest in classical literature. "Perhaps the film will persuade a few college administrators not to cut their literature, language, and history departments," she suggested, acknowledging Nolan's own background in English studies and his indirect contribution to encouraging reading.
The film has achieved considerable box office success, earning $264.1 million globally on its opening weekend and a further $215.3 million in its second, with a modest 19% drop in receipts. This commercial triumph stands in contrast to Wilson's critical appraisal of its artistic merits.