Ben Shapiro defended Christopher Nolan's film "The Odyssey," calling the work a masterpiece during an appearance on the morning show "Rising" [1].
The commentator's stance marks a public break with fellow conservatives who have criticized the movie's casting decisions. Shapiro's defense suggests a tension within right-wing media between adherence to traditional casting and the recognition of artistic quality.
Shapiro said that criticisms of the film are not in good faith [1]. He specifically addressed the backlash regarding the casting of actors such as Elliot Page and Lupita Nyong'o, arguing that the right-wing opposition is driven by motives other than genuine artistic critique [1, 3].
According to Shapiro, the film's core message resonates with conservative values. "The broader theme of the movie is actually very much in line with many things that conservatives think," he said [3]. He further dismissed simplistic interpretations of the source material, noting that the Trojan War was not really launched over Helen being gorgeous [2].
Shapiro said that conservatives should learn from the success of the film rather than focusing on casting controversies. He maintained that the production's quality outweighs the political objections raised by some in his political circle [1].
“"Criticisms of the film are not in good faith."”
This disagreement highlights a growing divide in conservative cultural commentary between 'anti-woke' casting critiques and a preference for high-production cinematic achievement. By framing the backlash as 'bad faith,' Shapiro is challenging the prevailing right-wing narrative that casting choices are a primary indicator of a film's ideological value.
