Emily Wilson critiques Christopher Nolan's Odyssey adaptation

Translator Emily Wilson, whose iambic-pentameter rendering of The Odyssey has become a standard for contemporary readers, wrote a detailed review of Christopher Nolan’s $250 million film adaptation in the London Review of Books. While she acknowledged the movie’s visual appeal and its ability to draw families to cinemas, Wilson argued that the screenplay simplifies key characters and fails to capture the complexity of Homer’s hero.

"Damon’s Odysseus isn’t complicated or wily or artful," Wilson wrote, noting that the protagonist is portrayed mainly as anxious and guilt-ridden rather than the cunning figure of the epic. She also said the film’s depiction of the Trojan side lacks individual humanity, reducing them to faceless antagonists.

Wilson praised the film’s adherence to the story-within-a-story structure of the original poem but contended that the narrative and emotional depth are uneven. She highlighted the limited agency given to Penelope, played by Anne Hathaway, and to Calypso, portrayed by Charlize Theron, suggesting that their roles are reduced to passive support for the male lead.

The reviewer also addressed the casting choices, observing that the diverse ensemble often occupies supporting roles that reinforce the central white protagonist’s journey. She noted that the film omits visible gods, a prominent element in the ancient text, and raised concerns about filming part of the production in Western Sahara.

Despite these criticisms, Wilson concluded that Nolan’s adaptation succeeds in bringing a classic work to a broad audience and encouraging cinema attendance in the streaming era.