{"success":true,"data":{"id":"bf710a24-d0fa-42bc-9c07-828d92fad33f","title":"Is Christopher Nolan’s Odysseus Too Soft?","summary":"National Review Is Christopher Nolan’s Odysseus Too Soft? Article Browser Matt Damon in The Odyssey (Universal Pictures/IMDb) By Rich Lowry It’s true that Nolan modernizes the Greek hero for a contemporary audience, but what was he supposed to do?","content":"National Review\n\nIs Christopher Nolan’s Odysseus Too Soft?\n\n## Article Browser\n\nMatt Damon in _The Odyssey_(Universal Pictures/IMDb)\n\nBy [Rich Lowry * [About Rich Lowry](https://www.nationalreview.com/author/rich-lowry/ \"Read More About Rich Lowry\") * [Follow Rich Lowry on X](https://twitter.com/richlowry \"Follow Rich Lowry on X\")](https://www.nationalreview.com/author/rich-lowry/)\n\nIt’s true that Nolan modernizes the Greek hero for a contemporary audience, but what was he supposed to do?\n\nW as[Odysseus](https://www.nationalreview.com/search/?s=Odysseus&order=newest), the legendary Greek warrior, actually a wimp?\n\nThe most trenchant criticisms of Christopher Nolan’s new blockbuster movie involve how he portrays the hero of the tale.\n\nIn the original, Odysseus is a clever, multifaceted hero who comes up with the idea for the Trojan horse and then, after the Greeks win the decade-long war with Troy, embarks on his arduous journey home to Ithaca and his waiting wife, Penelope.\n\nNow, it’s true that Nolan modernizes Odysseus for a contemporary audience, but what was he supposed to do? If he’d given us the 100 percent Homeric Odysseus — abducting women, slaughtering unarmed  ...\n\nContinue reading this article with an NRPLUS subscription.\n\nIt’s back! Get six months of NRPLUS for $17.76!\n\nShare Comments \n\n[Rich Lowry](https://www.nationalreview.com/author/rich-lowry/ \"Rich Lowry's archive page\") is the editor in chief of National Review.[@richlowry](https://www.twitter.com/richlowry \"Rich Lowry on X\")\n\n## More in[Film & TV](https://www.nationalreview.com/film-tv/)\n\n### The Latest\n\nPastor Ezra Jin’s release is a reason to celebrate, but the U.S. shouldn’t rest until Lai is freed.\n\nNina Shea\n\nThe WNBA star states the obvious about men playing women’s sports under the guise of inclusivity.\n\nThe Editors\n\nClearing away the conservative obsession with Christopher Nolan.\n\nArmond White\n\nThe whiplash over federal land management makes the case to return the responsibility to legislative bodies.\n\nEthan Blevins\n\nPlus: A failed terror attack in New York.\n\nNR Editors\n\nThe small Spanish town had a profound effect on the National Review senior editor.\n\nDaniel J. Flynn","source_name":"National Review","source_url":"https://www.nationalreview.com/2026/07/is-christopher-nolans-odysseus-too-soft/","url":"https://www.nationalreview.com/2026/07/is-christopher-nolans-odysseus-too-soft/","author":"Rich Lowry","author_name":"Rich Lowry","published_at":"2026-07-24T10:30:48.000Z","publication_date":"2026-07-24T10:30:48.000Z","image_url":"https://i0.wp.com/www.nationalreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/matt-damon-the-odyssey-bow-2.jpg?fit=789%2C460&ssl=1","category":"politics","topic":"politics","tags":[],"political_bias":null,"bias_score":null,"confidence_score":null,"credibility_score":null,"factual_quality":null,"reading_time":2,"word_count":301,"view_count":0,"breaking":false,"breaking_news":false,"ai_analysis":null,"fact_check_status":"unverified","archive_status":"hot","language":null}}