Christopher Nolan's Favorite Translator Absolutely Hated His Odyssey
Emily Wilson called the $250 million adaptation a family-friendly spectacle with little narrative depth after Christopher Nolan cited her translation as inspiration.
- Emily Wilson, the translator whose work inspired Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, published a scathing review in the London Review of Books, saying she would be ashamed to have written any part of its script.
- Nolan previously cited Wilson's 2018 translation, particularly the opening line 'Tell me about a complicated man,' as key to his adaptation of the Greek epic following Odysseus's journey home after the Trojan War.
- Wilson argued the $250 million production strips away what has made Homer's epic endure for nearly 3,000 years, lacking psychological, emotional, political and ethical depth. She called it 'an entertaining way to hide from the high temperatures for a few hours.'
- Production decisions near Dakhla in Western Sahara represent 'the most troubling ethical problem' with the adaptation, according to Wilson, who argued the choice risked 'normalising the ongoing violence against the indigenous Sahrawi people.'
- Despite Wilson's critique, the film has achieved significant commercial success since its July 17 release, earning $652 million globally and holding a 94% critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes while remaining a major Oscar contender.
21 Articles
21 Articles
Is Christopher Nolan’s “Odyssey” Accurate? Bestselling Translator Weighs In
Christopher Nolan's cinematic rendition of "The Odyssey" is a massive box-office hit. Nolan was influenced by Emily Wilson's English translation of "The Odyssey," which has sold over one million copies. Wilson has spent much of her career studying Homer's original text. She joins Walter Isaacson to discuss how her translation differs from others — including Nolan's telling of the tale.
‘Odyssey’ translator Emily Wilson rips apart film, says she’d be ‘ashamed to have written’ script
LOS ANGELES — Emily Wilson, whose translation of Homer's "The Odyssey" published in 2017 served as inspiration to Christopher Nolan when crafting his blockbuster adaptation of the nearly 2,800-year-old poem, has some thoughts on the film. In a biting missive for the London Review of Books, the British American classicist dissected Nolan's work with a scalpel so sharp that he may need to borrow ...
'Odyssey' translator Emily Wilson says Nolan should have hired a scriptwriter
The renowned classics scholar caused a stir when her critical review of Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey went viral. Wilson explains her reaction to the film and why she's translating the poem again.
Translator reveals he was greatly inspired by Director Nolan's unrequited love; worst criticism of the Nolan Odyssey script; Professor Emily Wilson mentions that Director Nolan was greatly inspired by that person's translation; criticism that Nolan Odyssey is merely grandiose and shallow; character immaturity; devaluation of Christopher Knoll of the movie Odyssey, stating he would have been ashamed if he had written even a part of it.
‘The Odyssey’ Translator Emily Wilson blasts Nolan's 'abysmal' film, 'would be ashamed' to have made it
Emily Wilson pans Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" adaptation in a scathing film review, calling the writing "abysmal" and criticizing its portrayal of Odysseus and Homer's epic.
Academic who influenced Nolan’s The Odyssey delivers scathing review
The academic whose acclaimed translation of The Odyssey helped inspire Sir Christopher Nolan’s latest blockbuster has delivered a blistering review of the film, saying she “would be ashamed” to have written its script.
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