Emily Wilson, translator of "The Odyssey" and a classical studies professor at the University of Pennsylvania, has intensified her criticism of Christopher Nolan's film adaptation in a scathing review for the London Review of Books, going further than her earlier Sunday Times remarks. She wrote that the screenplay is "abysmal" and that she "would be ashamed to have written any part of this script," arguing the film fails to capture the psychological, emotional, political and ethical depth of Homer's original despite Nolan having cited her 2017 translation as a direct influence.

In the review, Wilson said Nolan's film has "nothing convincing to say" about time, memory, history or war, criticised its narrative structure as "gimmicky," and said no character has convincing motivation for their actions. Nolan had previously praised Wilson during the film's press tour, telling Empire magazine he used the opening line of her translation to shape Matt Damon's portrayal of Odysseus. Despite her harsh verdict, Wilson has acknowledged the film's positive cultural impact, noting it is driving audiences back to cinemas and boosting sales of Odyssey translations, including her own.