Los Angeles: Writer Joyce Carol Oates has joined the debate surrounding Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey after translator Emily Wilson criticised the filmmaker's adaptation in a review that has gone viral.
Wilson, known for her acclaimed translations of The Iliad and The Odyssey, dismissed Nolan's version, describing the writing as "abysmal" and the film's narrative structure as "gimmicky".
In pre-release interviews, Nolan had cited Wilson's translation, particularly its opening line, "Tell me about a complicated man", as an inspiration for his interpretation of Odysseus.
Oates criticised Wilson's language, saying her dismissal of the film and Nolan's creative choices struck the wrong tone. The casting of Lupita Nyong'o as Helen had already sparked criticism from Elon Musk and some conservative commentators in the US, who accused Nolan of being "woke".
The American author, best known for Blonde and We Were the Mulvaneys, wrote on X that Wilson's "tone of dismissal & haughty superiority strike a sour note".
"Rather than disagreeing with interpretations of Homer in a collegial manner, this person, who has benefited enormously from Nolan's film, speaks in the crude language of MAGA folks attacking someone with ideas that differ from hers," Oates wrote.
"One would expect a translator, of all people, beholden to a text, in service to a text, to be just a wee bit more thoughtful & respectful of others who are acting in good faith just as (she would claim) she is."
yes, her tone of dismissal & haughty superiority strike a sour note. rather than disagreeing with interpretations of Homer in a collegial manner, this person, who has benefited enormously from Nolan's film, speaks in the crude language of MAGA folks attacking someone with ideas… https://t.co/Fs2pHChSxS
In a more than 4,000-word essay published in the London Review of Books, Wilson argued that Nolan's adaptation lacked many of the qualities that made Homer's epic enduring.
"Nolan's Odyssey lacks many of the elements that make the poem great. It has nothing convincing to say about time, memory, history, war, or about the relationship between one warrior's glorious return and the lives of his family, adversaries, comrades, friends and neighbours," she wrote.
"It lacks psychological, emotional, political and ethical depth. Its narrative structure is gimmicky. The writing is abysmal. None of the characters has convincing motivation for their actions or words. There are no sex scenes, and all the food looks horrible."
Wilson said she was humbled that Nolan had read at least the opening line of her translation but added, "I would be ashamed to have written any part of this script. Sadly, Damon's Odysseus isn't complicated or wily or artful."
Responding, Oates argued there was no reason filmmakers should not reinterpret classical heroes through their own creative vision.
She also said the most elegant English translation of The Odyssey was Daniel Mendelsohn's, describing it as poetic and carefully crafted.
"I do not think that Nolan's film will be considered a great classic but really, it seems that whatever Nolan did, it would disappoint hordes of people. Most moviemakers/creators just try the best they can—it seems odd that this director has drawn such angry criticism," she added.
The Odyssey, starring Matt Damon as Odysseus, was released in cinemas worldwide on 17 June. The film has received largely positive reviews from critics and has earned more than 720 million US dollars at the global box office.