Emily Wilson praises the buzz but slams Nolan's Odyssey adaptation

Emily Wilson, the scholar whose 2017 English rendering of The Odyssey was the first by a woman, wrote an essay in the London Review of Books criticizing Christopher Nolan’s recent blockbuster. Although she was flattered that Nolan quoted her famous opening line, she said she would be ashamed to have authored any part of the script. Wilson argued the film fails to provide a unifying narrative thread or meaningful character development, likening its emotional impact to an elaborate Fourth of July fireworks show.

She singled out the lack of chemistry between Matt Damon’s Odysseus and Anne Hathaway’s Penelope, and described Damon’s performance as “lummoxy.” The essay also highlighted inconsistencies in the film’s moral stance and condemned the decision to shoot in Western Sahara, suggesting it normalizes regional oppression. Despite her criticisms, Wilson recognized the movie’s commercial triumph and its role in drawing audiences back to theatres and possibly reviving interest in classical studies.