Conservative Columnist Says Nolan's 'Odyssey' Offers Moral Lesson for Trump

Conservative columnist David French wrote in The New York Times that Christopher Nolan’s new adaptation of "The Odyssey" serves as a cautionary tale about moral transgressions and their consequences, drawing parallels to President Donald Trump’s alleged enrichment and use of pardons. French said the film portrays Odysseus as a figure who violates ancient hospitality norms by employing the Trojan Horse, framing the act as a war crime that ultimately leads to personal guilt and exile. He argued that, despite criticism from right-wing figures over the casting of Lupita Nyong’o as Helen and Elliot Page as Sinon, the movie’s core message aligns with "small-c" conservative principles that emphasize universal moral laws and the inevitability of punishment for rule-breakers. > "Defy the gods? Deny the dignity of your neighbor? You certainly can, if you so choose. And you may prosper for a time. But the narrative arc of the movie tells us our destiny if that’s the path we choose. It turns out that there are rules for rule breakers, just as there are for everyone else, and those rules have persisted throughout human history." French concluded that the film warns that “heedless people, you will pay for what you destroy.” Liberal commentator Thom Hartmann echoed the view, suggesting the film highlights violations of ancient law that he likened to recent U.S. foreign-policy actions. Both writers noted that criticism of the film’s casting has been labeled “woke” by some conservatives, while director Nolan dismissed the backlash as irrelevant.