How Christopher Nolan is addressing backlash about the use of modern language in The Odyssey

Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, and Tom Holland were all seen coordinating but separately yesterday in New York on various press commitments to promote The Odyssey, opening this coming Friday. The film has already broken IMAX sales records. I saw it in IMAX and loved it in IMAX – I mean it’ll be great however you screen it but this movie in particular is in its purest form in IMAX. Oppenheimer I could take it or leave it in IMAX but with The Odyssey, here’s where I can say, in my opinion, that it’s the ideal. Sarah’s review of The Odyssey is coming later this week. As I’ve said, this is my favourite Christopher Nolan film, by a mile, and I was anxiously waiting on her reaction to see whether or not we lined up. Spoiler alert: we do. So I also can’t wait to read her post.

For now, the cast is on the final push. The New York red carpet premiere is happening tonight at Lincoln Square so that will likely be one of the viral stories on social media later today – second probably to the France vs Spain semifinal at the World Cup. It’s fortunate that the premiere is happening around when the match is ending.

But of course the actors aren’t the only stars of his project. Christopher Nolan is a huge draw, doesn’t matter who’s in the cast, he is a brand unto himself, which is why he’s also been so heavily featured on the press tour. And addressing some of the criticisms from the internet even though most of the internet has yet to see the final cut and is basing their gripes on the trailers… which, of course, is how it always works. He said as much in one of his recent interviews, telling the Telegraph, via THR, that:

“…these conversations that happen before people see the film — they’re always irrelevant, because no one having them knows what the film actually is yet.”

I mean, he would know given his Batman experience and the comic book bros are as toxic as any fandom. Nolan also addressed the backlash about the use of modern language as opposed to, say, an English accent, in the film.

“When you look at the ancient world, people tend to view the ancient world in weird ways and there’s a lot of cultural prejudice — elevating it just because it’s old. When you go to the poem, what you find is something that’s really earthy, grounded and accessible. So, for me, in building the world of the film, what I talk to all the actors about is, I want to center it on that and make it feel very fresh for modern audiences and do away with some of those assumptions.”

Even before I saw the film, I was into this decision. “Old” and “classic” doesn’t always have to be “English”. Especially not when the intention behind adapting Homer’s work is to highlight and celebrate stories. The Odyssey is wildly ambitious with one of its central themes: it is every story, every movie. You will see references to sooooo many films in this film. Which makes it a big swing and a flex for Nolan – the biggest director of the moment (on consistent box office and acclaim) has made a film that is all films based on a poem that is all stories from antiquity to the digital age. So, to go back to the language and dialogue in the film, it serves his purpose to have the characters speak in a way that connects most to the viewers who will be watching it (probably over and over again because this is a film that many of us will want to see several times) right now to drive the point that the sh-t that Homer was unpacking is still the sh-t that we’re wrestling with today. Also, let’s not torture ourselves for three hours having to listen to Matt Damon attempt a British accent.

Again, Sarah will have more on The Odyssey later this week, including the NYC premiere tomorrow. Before I wrap this post up though, let’s go back to Tom Holland on The Tonight Show last night, confirming that he did indeed try to be Erling Haaland’s friend, only to be totally ignored.