Emily Wilson critiques Christopher Nolan's adaptation of The Odyssey, stating it "lacks many of the elements that make the poem great" and expresses disappointment in the writing.
Christopher NolanEmily Wilson

Emily Wilson critiques Christopher Nolan's adaptation of The Odyssey, stating it "lacks many of the elements that make the poem great" and expresses disappointment in the writing.

Emily Wilson critiques Christopher Nolan's adaptation of The Odyssey, stating it "lacks many of the elements that make the poem great" and expresses disappointment in the writing, noting it fails to address key themes like time, memory, and war, and lacks convincing visuals and character depth.

IndieWire IndieWire28 July 2026 · 02:35 UTC
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Emily Wilson critiques Christopher Nolan's adaptation of The Odyssey, expressing disappointment in its failure to capture the essence of the original poem. She argues that the film "lacks many of the elements that make the poem great," particularly in its treatment of significant themes.1

Wilson notes that the adaptation has nothing convincing to say about time, memory, history, and war, and fails to explore the complex relationships between characters, such as the warrior's return and its impact on family and friends. She points out that the film is devoid of sex scenes and that the food depicted looks unappetizing, further detracting from the experience.

In her critique, Wilson takes particular issue with Nolan's writing, stating that she would be ashamed to have been credited with the screenplay. Despite her criticisms, she acknowledges Nolan's contribution to the cinematic landscape, ending her review with a note of gratitude, humorously remarking that, unlike the citadel at Troy, nothing here is on fire.

Key Insight
“Wilson critiques that Nolan's adaptation "lacks many of the elements that make the poem great," noting it has nothing convincing to say about key themes. Despite her criticisms, she acknowledges Nolan's contribution, stating, "nothing here is on fire," reflecting a nuanced view of the adaptation.”
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“Wilson, whose popular modern translation has been cited by Christopher Nolan, has some notes.”
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