Author Joyce Carol Oates has come to the defense of Christopher Nolan's film "The Odyssey" after translator Emily Wilson published a highly critical review in the London Review of Books. Wilson, whose translation of Homer's epic is widely regarded, described the film in harsh terms, stating she would be ashamed to have written it. Oates, a celebrated novelist, responded by criticizing Wilson's tone, accusing her of using language akin to that of MAGA supporters rather than engaging in collegial scholarly disagreement. The exchange has drawn attention to the cultural clash between academic criticism and mainstream cinema. Oates argued that Wilson, who has benefited from the attention generated by Nolan's film, should have expressed her criticisms more constructively. Wilson's review went viral, prompting Oates's public rebuttal. The dispute highlights ongoing debates over adaptations of classical works and the role of public intellectuals in evaluating popular media. Neither Oates nor Wilson has commented further.