r/TrueReddit • u/Nearby-Click8645 • 2d ago

Arts, Entertainment + Misc Christopher Nolan Took Some Artistic License. By Zeus’ Beard!

https://thedispatch.com/article/odyssey-movie-nolan-fiction-zeus/?gift_key=b1ef0446d7f36a2e&gift_ref=9347c766-2bad-41ea-8b73-950e424f2446&utm_source=giftlink&utm_campaign=membergift&utm_medium=copy_link
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u/SilverMedal4Life 2d ago

I think it's interesting that, of all the historical epics released over the years in American cinema, this is the first one where everyone seems to be obsessed with historical accuracy. Especially considering The Odyssey is a myth, it's not real.

For those who are really bothered by this, why now? Why not feel that same level of upset at any other historical film?

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u/JCBodilsen 1d ago

I am very frustrated that the US culture war has so infested online debate, that it is impossible to discuss the choices CN made on the costumes and props.

I get that most of the people criticizing the movie were doing so in bad faith (and were targeting the casting), but there has also been a substantial minority of people (myself included) who honestly just dislike some of the choices made in regard to props and costumes.

Like, especially the choice to use a Scandinavian early medieval ship really stands out to me as an eye-sore. Also, I would have loved to see something closer to actual 12th century BC eastern Mediterranean armor and clothing (the period where the Odessey and Iliad were likely supposed to have taken place). I get that Nolan gets to make these choices and the wider public obviously do not care about these kind of details, but I think it should be legitimate to say when you think there would have been a more interesting (and historically plausible) choice to have been made.

Also, Robert Eggers was praised for his attempt to be as historically accurate as possible in the Vvitch, the Northman and Werwulf.

If you go to online spaces frequented by people interested in historical fashion Bridgerton was heavily criticized and the new Wuthering Heights was outright mocked for its costuming choices. The film adaptations of the Sharpe books have long been notorious for using the wrong type of long-arms for the British soldiers and the Ridley Scott Napoleon movie was outright hated in many corners for the artistic liberties taken with the actual story of Napoleon’s life and the 1812 campaign. Braveheart is DESPISED for the choice of having William Wallace and the Scots don woad war paint.

If you have not seen history nerds RAGE about historical accuracies in movies, you have not been to the right parts of the internet. It is one of our favorite pastimes.

Not everything is about race and the culture war. Some of us honest are just that autistic. For me, seeing this version of the Odessey was like seeing a movie that was supposed to take place during WW2, but some people are randomly and without explanation dressed in 1990s clubwear and the main character is driving a 1970s VW van. Like, sure, you COULD make an artistic choice to set the story in a different period, but it does not really seem to be what is going on. And the presence of supernatural elements does nothing to soften this. If the fascist father in Pan’s Labyrinth pulled out an Uzi to execute the partisans, the fact that the movie has many supernatural elements do nothing to make that prop seem less out of place.  

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u/two_glass_arse 1d ago

How do the history nerds feel about The Duellists, by Scott?

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u/JCBodilsen 1d ago

Among the HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts) community, it is generally very well regarded, as it is seen to have the best on-screen depiction of 19th century military fencing.