Critics Debate Emily Wilson's Scathing Review of Nolan's 'Odyssey'
In the most recent issue of The Critics, Jasmine Vojdani, senior newsletter editor at Vulture, facilitated a conversation regarding classicist Emily Wilson's review of Christopher Nolan's film adaptation of Homer's 'The Odyssey.' This critique, featured in the London Review of Books, caused the website to crash. Wilson's scathing assessment ignited a discussion on X with Joyce Carol Oates. Critics examined the essence of criticism, the adaptation of classic works, and the role of academics in reviewing. While Kathryn VanArendonk advocated for academic reviews, Angelica Jade Bastien supported Wilson's stance against Nolan. Conversely, Bilge Ebiri labeled her review as inadequate, and Roxana Hadadi criticized her for overlooking cinematic distinctions. This discourse highlights a renewed interest in the humanities within film.
Key facts
- Emily Wilson's review of Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' was published in the London Review of Books and momentarily crashed the website.
- Wilson's review included the line: 'The writing is abysmal. There are no sex scenes, and all the food looks horrible.'
- Joyce Carol Oates engaged in a dayslong debate on X about Wilson's review, which was covered by major trade publications.
- Kathryn VanArendonk argued that more academics should write reviews, noting that in the 1940s and 1950s academics were public intellectuals.
- Angelica Jade Bastien defended Wilson's harsh criticism, stating that Nolan is not unimpeachable and that his inability to write women is 'pretty damning.'
- Bilge Ebiri, who interviewed Nolan for hours, disagreed with Wilson's review, calling it 'not a very good review' and suggesting it reflects a disdain for mainstream filmmaking.
- Roxana Hadadi criticized Wilson for not considering how films differ from source material, but also noted that the movie fails to show the violence Odysseus and his men are responsible for.
- The debate highlights a resurgence of humanities in cinema, with similar discussions around 'Wuthering Heights' and 'Hamnet.'
Entities
Artists
- Emily Wilson
- Christopher Nolan
- Joyce Carol Oates
- Kathryn VanArendonk
- Angelica Jade Bastien
- Bilge Ebiri
- Roxana Hadadi
- Jasmine Vojdani
- Lupita Nyong'o
- Himesh Patel
Institutions
- London Review of Books
- Vulture
- Netflix
Locations
- Hollywood