Emily Wilson, the British-American translator known for her English verse translation of 'The Odyssey,' has published a highly critical review of Christopher Nolan's film adaptation in the London Review of Books. Wilson, a professor of classical studies at the University of Pennsylvania, wrote that she 'would be ashamed to have written any part of this script.'

In her review, Wilson described the film as lacking 'psychological, emotional, political and ethical depth' and having 'nothing convincing to say.' She criticized the narrative structure as 'artificial,' the writing as 'terrible,' and stated that none of the characters have convincing motivations. Wilson also noted the absence of sex scenes and called the food in the film 'terrible.'

I would be ashamed to have written any part of this script.

The criticism is notable because Nolan had previously praised Wilson's translation, particularly the opening line 'Tell me about a complicated man,' which he used as inspiration for Matt Damon's portrayal of Odysseus. Wilson acknowledged that she was honored that Nolan read at least the first line of her translation.

Despite her harsh review, Wilson noted that the film has increased interest in ancient Greek literature and that translations of the epic are selling well. She expressed gratitude to Nolan for encouraging reading. Meanwhile, the film has crossed $700 million at the global box office after just over two weeks, making it the fourth highest-grossing film of 2026.

Joyce Carol Oates Defends Nolan

Novelist Joyce Carol Oates, a four-time Pulitzer Prize finalist and National Book Award winner, defended Nolan's film on social media. Oates criticized Wilson's tone as 'dismissal & haughty superiority,' comparing it to 'the crude language of MAGA folks attacking someone with ideas that differ from hers.' Oates also said she was not a fan of Wilson's translation, calling it 'deliberately written to appeal to an audience comfortable with YA directness & spareness of vocabulary.'

Oates recommended Nolan's film and the 1997 miniseries co-produced by Francis Coppola, adding that while Nolan's film is not a great classic, any adaptation would disappoint many. She described the criticism of Nolan as 'chilling, dampening for any creative artist.'