Joyce Carol Oates has entered the literary argument over Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, defending the film against a widely shared and highly critical review by Emily Wilson, the acclaimed translator of Homer’s epics.
Details:
- Oates’s position: Writing on X, Oates said Wilson’s “tone of dismissal & haughty superiority strike a sour note,” arguing that a translator of all people might be expected to be more thoughtful toward others acting in good faith.
- Her view of the film: Oates recommended both Nolan’s film and the 1997 miniseries co-produced by Francis Coppola, saying there is no reason a filmmaker should not re-imagine a classical hero through his own prism.
- Wilson’s critique: In the London Review of Books, Wilson wrote that the film “lacks many of the elements that make the poem great,” without psychological, political or ethical depth, and called filming in occupied Western Sahara its most troubling ethical problem.
- Wilson’s concession: Wilson also noted the release was cause for celebration for the surge of public interest it drove in Homer’s work, including her own translations.
- The numbers: Universal’s film has surpassed $727 million globally after 12 days, and is expected to lose the top box office spot this weekend.
What to Watch:
How the dispute affects the film’s run remains to be seen as it faces the new Spider-Man release for the top box office position this weekend.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
