THE ODYSSEY Translator Emily Wilson Tears Into Christopher Nolan’s Film: “The Writing Is Abysmal”

When Christopher Nolanannounced The Odyssey, one of the biggest points of interest for fans of Homer’s epic was the director’s admiration for Emily Wilson’s acclaimed 2017 English translation. Nolan even pointed to her work as a key influence while shaping his own take on Odysseus.

Now that the movie is out, though, Wilson has made it crystal clear that the admiration isn’t mutual.

In a blistering review published in the London Review of Books, Wilson, who is also a professor of classical studies at the University of Pennsylvania, took aim at Nolan’s adaptation, arguing that it misses what makes Homer’s story endure after thousands of years.

Rather than finding a thoughtful interpretation of the ancient epic, Wilson felt the film leaned into spectacle while falling short where it mattered most.

"I had hoped that Nolan’s affinity with these Homeric themes might push him to new creative heights, and enable him to conjure more believable characters.

“But ‘The Odyssey’ features his usual combination of grandiosity and superficiality … the film’s vision is too confused, its characters too underdeveloped, to deliver what it half-promises in terms of big ideas – although it is very good at conveying big bangs and big giants."

Wilson didn't stop there. She followed that criticism with an even harsher assessment of the screenplay and the film's overall approach to Homer’s classic.

"Nolan’s ‘Odyssey’ lacks many of the elements that make the poem great. It has nothing convincing to say about time, memory, history, war, or about the relationship between one warrior’s glorious return and the lives of his family, adversaries, comrades, friends and neighbors.

“It lacks psychological, emotional, political and ethical depth. Its narrative structure is gimmicky. The writing is abysmal. None of the characters has convincing motivation for their actions or words. There are no sex scenes, and all the food looks horrible."

That’s about as sharp a critique as you're ever likely to read from the translator whose work helped inspire the project in the first place.

Ironically, Nolan had spoken glowingly about Wilson’s translation while promoting The Odyssey. During an interview, he explained that the opening line of her translation, "Tell me about a complicated man," became a guiding principle for how he approached Matt Damon’s portrayal of Odysseus.

Wilson’s final verdict on Nolan’s screenplay was especially brutal: "I would be ashamed to have written any part of this script."

Despite her opinion of the movie itself, Wilson doesn’t see its existence as a bad thing for literature or classical studies. She previously acknowledged that Nolan’s blockbuster has reignited public interest in Homer’s work, and she sees that as a genuine win.

"The release of ‘The Odyssey’ is still an event to celebrate. This epic is bringing audiences back to cinemas … translations of ‘Odyssey,’ including mine, are flying off the shelves … [and] perhaps the film will persuade a few college administrators not to cut their literature, language and history departments."

While Wilson’s review is sure to spark plenty of discussion, moviegoers seem to have landed in a very different place.

The Odyssey earned an "A" CinemaScore from opening weekend audiences and has become one of the year's biggest theatrical hits. The film also pulled in an impressive $90 million during its second weekend at the domestic box office, proving that audiences have embraced Nolan’s ambitious take on Homer’s legendary adventure, even if one of its biggest literary influences certainly hasn't.

Whether you agree with Wilson or not, her review has added another fascinating chapter to the conversation surrounding The Odyssey.

It's not every day that the translator whose work helped shape a filmmaker's vision turns around and calls the finished screenplay "abysmal."

Source: The Guardian