Emily Wilson criticizes Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey as superficial and empty

Emily Wilson, the classicist whose acclaimed 2017 translation of Homer's Odyssey was cited by Christopher Nolan during the initial promotion of his film adaptation, has published a scathing critique of the movie in the London Review of Books. Wilson argues that the film has "nothing compelling to say" and "lacks psychological, emotional, political, and ethical depth." She expresses disappointment that Nolan's affinity for Homeric themes did not lead to more credible characters or creative heights. Instead, she describes the film as combining "grandiosity and superficiality," with a confused vision and underdeveloped characters. The essay marks a sharp reversal from Nolan's earlier praise of Wilson's translation, which he had used to bolster the film's literary credentials.