Emily Wilson's Scathing Review of Nolan's 'Odissea'
On Monday, Emily Wilson, known for her translation of Homer's Odyssey, released a scathing critique of Christopher Nolan's film 'Odissea.' She characterized the movie as lacking substance, dry, and disrespectful to the original text, pointing out its weak writing and implausible character motivations. Wilson remarked on the absence of sexual scenes and unappealing food, comparing the film to a Fourth of July fireworks show. Although the film's under-three-hour runtime prevented it from being dull, she still found it to be a superficial display. Additionally, she criticized Nolan's casting decisions and the insufficient portrayal of female characters, such as Calypso (Charlize Theron), and condemned the filming location in the contested Western Sahara. Other classicists shared her sentiments, while Nolan has yet to reply.
Key facts
- Emily Wilson published a scathing review of Christopher Nolan's 'Odissea' on Monday.
- Wilson is the author of a celebrated modern English translation of the Odyssey.
- Nolan had previously praised Wilson's translation as a key reference for his film.
- Wilson described the film as superficial, arid, and lacking depth.
- She compared the film to a Fourth of July fireworks display.
- Wilson criticized the casting as faux-progressive, with non-white actors in supporting roles.
- She noted female characters like Calypso and Penelope are underdeveloped.
- Wilson criticized filming in Western Sahara, a disputed territory.
- Other classicists like Massimo Giuseppetti and Daniel Mendelsohn echoed similar criticisms.
- Nolan has not yet responded to the review.
Entities
Artists
- Emily Wilson
- Christopher Nolan
- Matt Damon
- Robert Pattinson
- Zendaya
- Lupita Nyong'o
- Himesh Patel
- Corey Antonio Hawkins
- Travis Scott
- Charlize Theron
- Massimo Giuseppetti
- Daniel Mendelsohn
- Homer
- Tom Holland
- Anne Hathaway
- Samantha Morton
- Elliot Page
- Ryan Hurst
- John Leguizamo
- Ralph Fiennes
- Juliet Binoche
- Leonardo DiCaprio
- Harold Bloom
- Euripides
- Virgil
- John Milton
- James Joyce
- Derek Walcott
- Margaret Atwood
- Madeline Miller
- Lisa Peterson
- Uberto Pasolini
- Peter Jackson
Institutions
- University College of London
- London Review of Books
- University College London
Locations
- Western Sahara
- Morocco
- New York
- London
- WC1A 2HN
- United Kingdom