Christopher Nolan previously cited Emily Wilson's 2017 English translation of "The Odyssey" as a significant inspiration for his adaptation of Homer's epic. He even used the opening line, "Tell me a story of a complicated man," as a guiding principle for shaping Matt Damon's portrayal of Odysseus.
Recently, however, Wilson penned a scathing review in the London Review of Books, criticizing the film for its perceived lack of psychological, emotional, political, and ethical depth:
Wilson stated that she had initially hoped Nolan's engagement with Homeric themes would push him to new creative heights and allow him to craft more believable characters. However, she found that Nolan's "Odyssey" still exhibited his characteristic bombast and superficiality. She argued that the film's vision was too muddled and its characters underdeveloped, preventing it from truly delivering on its half-hearted promises of grand ideas, despite its proficiency in depicting "huge explosions and huge giants." Wilson further elaborated that Nolan's "Odyssey" lacked many elements that make the original poem a great work, offering no compelling perspective on time, memory, history, war, or the relationship between a warrior's glorious return and the lives of their family, enemies, comrades, friends, and neighbors.
Wilson continued her critique, asserting that the film lacked psychological, emotional, political, and ethical depth. She described its narrative structure as merely pretentious and its writing as "terrible." She found no credible motivation behind any character's actions or dialogue, noting the absence of sex scenes and that "all the food looked unappetizing." Wilson concluded by stating she would be ashamed to have written any part of the script.
Despite her criticisms, Wilson acknowledged some positive effects, stating that the film's release was still "a cause for celebration," as it brought audiences back to theaters for the epic. She observed that various translations of "The Odyssey," including her own, were selling rapidly in bookstores, and suggested the film might even persuade some university administrators not to cut literature, language, and history departments.
Following its release, the film earned an "A" CinemaScore and grossed $90 million in its second North American weekend.
via： Variety