Classicist Emily Wilson criticizes Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' as grandiose and superficial

Classicist Emily Wilson, whose acclaimed 2017 translation of Homer's Odyssey was cited by director Christopher Nolan in early promotion for his blockbuster film adaptation, has published a scathing critique of the movie. In an essay for the London Review of Books, Wilson argues that the film lacks psychological, emotional, political, and ethical depth, calling it grandiose and superficial. She states that the movie has 'nothing convincing to say' and that its characters are too underdeveloped to deliver on its promises of big ideas, though it excels at depicting explosions and giants.

The film, which is a hugely successful adaptation of the ancient Greek epic, was anticipated by Wilson to potentially push Nolan to new creative heights given his stated affinity with Homeric themes. However, she concludes that the movie instead features the director's usual combination of grandiosity and superficiality, with a confused vision and underdeveloped characters. Wilson's translation was previously praised by Nolan, making her critical response particularly notable.

Wilson's essay appears in the London Review of Books, where she elaborates on her disappointment. The critique is significant because it comes from a scholar whose work was directly referenced by the filmmaker, suggesting a disconnect between the film's intellectual aspirations and its execution. The film's commercial success contrasts sharply with Wilson's assessment of its artistic and thematic shortcomings.

Looking ahead, Wilson's essay may influence critical discourse around the film, potentially prompting further debate about the adaptation's fidelity to Homer's epic and its handling of complex themes. Nolan has not yet responded to the criticism.