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Conservatives Admit The Odyssey Was “Really Really Good”
Christopher Nolan's film adaptation of *The Odyssey* has won unexpected praise from conservative commentators, months after right-wing figures criticised the casting of trans actor Elliot Page as Sinon and Lupita Nyong'o as Helen of Troy, with some predicting it would flop commercially. The film has instead performed strongly, undercutting the earlier backlash and prompting some on the right, including Ben Shapiro, to publicly reassess their stance.
The Odyssey is projected to open with roughly $120 million at the US box office and holds a 97% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, slightly ahead of its 95% critics' rating. Shapiro gave the film 9 out of 10 in a YouTube review, calling it "a masterpiece" and praising its visuals, while still voicing reservations about Page's casting. He argued that conservatives risk undermining their cultural influence by dismissing art outright over casting decisions they disagree with, rather than judging the work on its merits.
In short
- Nolan's *The Odyssey* wins praise from conservatives after earlier casting backlash.
- Film heads for a $120m US opening and 97% audience Rotten Tomatoes score.
- Ben Shapiro rated it 9/10, despite criticising Elliot Page's casting.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Art's quality and political disagreements are distinct evaluations, and conflating them undermines intellectual credibility. Dismissing excellent work wholesale damages one's authority in broader cultural debates and suggests dogmatism rather than principled judgment. Engaging seriously with art one disagrees with politically is more sophisticated and strategically effective than reflexive rejection, allowing one to maintain both critical standards and cultural influence.
The case against
Casting decisions are not separate from a work's artistic meaning—they shape storytelling, themes, and the values being embedded in the culture created. Asking audiences to compartmentalise their principles to enjoy entertainment that embodies different values is asking them to compromise what they claim to believe in. Maintaining consistent convictions about what kind of culture should be created matters more than strategic calculations about cultural influence or intellectual perception.
Explained simply
Director Christopher Nolan has adapted Homer's ancient Greek epic poem The Odyssey into a film. When the cast was announced, some conservative commentators criticised the inclusion of trans actor Elliot Page and Black actress Lupita Nyong'o in major roles and predicted the film would struggle commercially.
The film has instead been a commercial and critical success, earning roughly $120 million at the American box office and receiving high ratings from audiences and critics. This has prompted some who opposed the casting to publicly reconsider their initial position.
The development raises questions about how commentators should respond when cultural works they disagree with prove successful with audiences. It highlights a tension between opposition to specific casting and production decisions and the recognition of artistic merit and broad appeal.