The translator whose version of The Odyssey influenced Sir Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of Homer’s epic poem has joined the many dissenters from its box office success.
Emily Wilson took to the left-leaning London Review of Books to call out the “gimmicky” film for its “abysmal” writing (she “would be ashamed to have written any of this script”):
None of the characters has convincing motivation for their actions or words. There are no sex scenes, and all the food looks horrible.
It lacks psychological, emotional, political and ethical depth.
Even prior to release, Nolan’s film ran into controversy about the absence of Greek actors. Such issues may have been settled, in part, when on July 28th Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis thanked Nolan for spotlighting Ancient Greece. Even if Greek anger over the film is subsiding, ongoing complaints about the film’s ‘woke’ casting remain.
