Odyssey Translator Slams Nolan's Film as 'Abysmal' in LRB
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- Emily Wilson, whose 2017 translation of Homer's Odyssey Nolan cited as an influence, published a scathing review of his new film in the London Review of Books.
- Wilson said she "would be ashamed to have written any of this script," calling the writing "abysmal," the narrative structure "gimmicky," and saying no character has convincing motivation.
- Wilson said the film "lacks psychological, emotional, political and ethical depth," comparing the three-hour epic to "an elaborate Fourth of July fireworks display" with about the same narrative depth.
- Wilson nonetheless called the release "an event to celebrate," noting Odyssey translations are "flying off the shelves" and that Nolan is "doing his best to get the general public reading again."
- Nolan told Empire magazine he used the opening line of Wilson's translation — "Tell me about a complicated man" — as a guide for Matt Damon's portrayal of Odysseus.
- The film received rapturous reviews elsewhere: The Telegraph called it "film of the year," The Times deemed it "a masterpiece in every way," and Metro said it would "change cinema forever."
Why it matters: Wilson's critique cuts against the near-unanimous critical praise Nolan's Odyssey received from major UK outlets, and her public dismissal is particularly pointed given Nolan himself credited her translation as an influence. Her acknowledgment that Odyssey translations are "flying off the shelves" complicates the narrative that the film is a cultural disappointment.
