Emily Wilson, the acclaimed classicist whose 2017 English translation of Homer’s The Odyssey was referenced by Christopher Nolan during the promotion of his blockbuster adaptation, has delivered a blistering critique of the film, describing it as “grandiose and superficial” and arguing that it fails to capture the depth of the ancient epic.

Writing in the London Review of Books, Wilson said she had hoped Nolan’s long-standing interest in Homeric themes would inspire one of his strongest works. Instead, she argued that the film falls short both emotionally and intellectually.

“I had hoped that Nolan’s affinity with these Homeric themes might push him to new creative heights, and enable him to conjure more believable characters,” she wrote. “But The Odyssey features his usual combination of grandiosity and superficiality. The film’s vision is too confused, its characters too underdeveloped, to deliver what it half-promises in terms of big ideas, although it is very good at conveying big bangs and big giants.”

According to The Guardian, Wilson believes Nolan’s adaptation misses many of the qualities that have made Homer’s epic endure for centuries.

She argued that the film “has nothing convincing to say” about themes such as time, memory, history and war, while also lacking meaningful exploration of the relationships between Odysseus and his family, companions, rivals and community.

“It lacks psychological, emotional, political and ethical depth,” Wilson wrote. “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 also reflected on Nolan’s admiration for the opening line of her translation, “Tell me about a complicated man”, but remarked: “I would be ashamed to have written any part of this script.”

Speaking separately to The Sunday Times, the University of Pennsylvania professor said the film failed to resonate with her on an emotional level.

“It didn’t land emotionally for me at all,” she said. “Which I think is partly about the fact that, unlike Homer, it’s not very well written.”

She also questioned the emotional investment created by Nolan’s characters, saying they lacked the richness and complexity found in Homer’s original work.

“I felt, ‘Do I really care if this guy gets back to his wife?’ You haven’t given me any reason to.”

Despite her criticism, Wilson acknowledged the film’s wider cultural impact. According to The Guardian, she welcomed the renewed public interest in ancient Greek literature sparked by the blockbuster, noting that new translations of The Odyssey, including her own, are selling rapidly.

She also suggested the film’s success could encourage universities to continue investing in literature, language and history programmes.

“The release of The Odyssey is still an event to celebrate,” Wilson wrote. “This epic is bringing audiences back to cinemas… perhaps the film will persuade a few college administrators not to cut their literature, language and history departments.”

She concluded by praising Nolan for encouraging audiences to engage with books, saying, “Nolan is doing his best to get the general public reading again, and I am grateful.”