Christopher Nolan

[thedude]

Originally Posted by MrSilly

I don't begrudge him his success, it just puzzles me the amount of critical praise lavished on many of his films. The Dark Knight was a good film, but was marred by pacing issues, scenes that were downright unnecessary (that goddamn Hong Kong bit), unneeded characters (was Rachel Dawes really needed apart form to provide one plot moment that could have replicated with damn near anyone else?) and a strained narrative. What's done well is done very well, but it's still pretty flawed.

I agree to a point, The Dark Knight has got some flaws, it also gets a bucket load of stuff right. Far more than many other films of a similar nature. In fact i'm still of the opinion that Nolan is the best "Blockbuster" director in Hollywood, or anywhere for that matter.

[Jonesy]

Let's be honest though, Memento was the only film he has made that can be considered mind-blowingly good. The others are okay, and one is just down right dreadful. Batman Begins was incredibly boring and tedious (surely one of the biggest crimes for a blockbuster), whilst as has already been pointed out, The Dark Knight was extremely flawed. Insomnia was fairly straightforward entertainment, and the Prestige was simply hideous. Unfortunately, I think Nolan is beginning to believe the hype that surrounds him, and thinks he's a lot better than he actually is. The Dark Knight was a perfect example of that - someone who thought they were being very clever, but in fact were just being filmically verbose.

If you want a decent mainstream director, then someone like Ridley Scott is a much better film-maker, despite some of the dross he's produced.

[morris]

Originally Posted by Goodland

Too often people think that a film being successful automatically means that it has sold out.

Let's be realistic here. There is nothing about The Dark Knight that isn't sold in, out, back to front and sideways. A more commercial Fat budgeted film you'd struggle to find.
I understand what you're getting at; he is satisfying his artistic vision and it just happens to be in a way that appeals to a great many people and makes bus loads of money... but let's not even try to pretend that Batman movies aren't as sold down the river as you can get?

I enjoy TDK, it's fun for what it is, a great ride ( up to the last tedious half an hour that is) but I hope Inception is a little more thought provoking, balanced and frankly - less 'moralism for Dummies'.

[thedude]

Originally Posted by morris

I hope Inception is a little more thought provoking, balanced and frankly - less 'moralism for Dummies'.

I have no complaint with that at all (bare with me) I'm not saying that its a good thing, but I would rather see some intelligence in a blockbuster, even if it is obvious and as subtle as a kick in the knackers with a large pair of boots, than none at all. I do feel Inception will perhaps have more of this, the premise is certainly interesting, and seems to have far more ideas than most films with a $200 budget. Of course I could be wrong, but I'm not willing to bet against a man who has so far at least tried to get some brains behind the stupity of "The Summer Blockbuster"

[QuentinSlash]

Christopher Nolan has made the impossible possible with Inception. Depending on your theory of the film's philosophical grounds and what actually happens at the end (that last shot, providing you've been paying attention, explains absolutely everything, and makes what appears at first to be a mesmerical 'it-all-turned-out-alright-in-the-end' heist movie into a heartbreaking tragedy) Christopher Nolan has either pushed forward the bounds of originality and cinematic vision and performance on all levels (writing, acting and directing, let alone thinking), or he has redefined the boundaries of not only film but philosophical and sceintific integration in cinema - thus making him not only the most talented director in the world, but also an intellectual and visionary genius.
I'll explain how: if you were a studio and a director came to you and said, "i've written a film set within a dream, about dreams and ideas, which applies dream logic to the most daring, clever and spectacular action set-piece in cinema history, which jumps consistently between layers and owners of subconsciousness to the nth degree, which involves the most original tragic love-and-loss story of our time, and which takes dream theory and imagery to a big summer blockbuster audience. i want billions of dollars and the strongest ensemble cast of hot actors right now, and i want to keep it entirely a secret as to the plot and point of the film to everybody but me until the film is premiered. what d'ya reckon?", you'd tell them they were mad, and that it was completely unfilmable and spectacularly overambitious. now f**k off and go and do an indie film scripted by Nick Hornby.
of course you would. thank f**k, then, that Nolan had already made Batman Begins and The Dark Knight before going to the studio with a pitch to make a movie of unfathomable philosophical and theological depths. otherwise, nobody else could possibly have been trusted with a project of this magnitude. Nolan's originality-expanding idea, his rich script, his groundbreaking visuals and magical handling of subject matter that both fascinates and terrifies, bring a new meaning to the word 'inspiration' - ironically for a film all about inspiration.
Nolan has taken Renee Descartes, Edgar Allan Poe and James Bond and created a beast of a film that will stand the test of time as one of the best and most provocative pieces of both art, philosophy and pure enjoyment of all time. Bow down and respect this man, and prepare yourself for the final Batman installment. it's gonna be good...

[MrSilly]

It was good. Hardly Citizen Kane for our times.

[Kiba.]

Originally Posted by QuentinSlash

Christopher Nolan has made the impossible possible with Inception. ...

Please look for an existing thread before posting. When it's someone like Christopher Nolan; the director of the moment, you know there has to be one.
Thanks.

[Jonesy]

Originally Posted by MrSilly

It was good. Hardly Citizen Kane for our times.

Quite. The sycophancy has begun. Nolan is better than all the other blockbuster directors put together, but that doesn't make him Jesus. He still remains a blockbuster director, and that in itself comes with flaws.

[MrSilly]

My chief problem with the film and its massive amounts of praise is primarily shown in an early scene. When Cobb is teaching Ariadne (daft name) the basics of what they do, there's that lovely little exchange where he asks her how they got to the cafe. For me that indicated the true potential of the film as Nolan has effectively brought into question a century's worth of progressing editing techniques. Whereas Hollywood and most other cinema has strived for seamless experiences, with editing often used to erase any filler, to keep the experience focused and driven, that one exchange made me believe that we shouldn't trust it in this scenario. In the world of Inception, the trivial segments that are often dealt with utilising a smooth cut or segue are in fact of utmost importance, without them everything could be cast into doubt. To me I thought it was the beginning of what could have been revolutionary, an entirely new way of telling the story and upending what is expected from the editing suite.

And then it's forgotten about apart from when they're in the hotel and Cobb is talking to Fischer. Bummer. What we're left with is a technically innovative and well-executed but ultimately pretty straightforward heist film. And what could be seen as the great irony is that the editing is amongst the great things of the film, whereas it could've been revolutionary.

That's more or less my primary gripe. Good film, but hinted at being truly great in the first half.

To make this worthy of this thread as opposed to the Inception review thread, that gripe can be translated towards most of Nolan's films. They open strong, and tantalise with innovative concepts and intriguing developments, but then descend into predictability, if still being very well-made. The Dark Knight for example got me all worked up at the thought of its take on Good and Evil, what with the character development of Harvey Dent, but then ended in a fairly by-the-numbers fashion, his character arc wasted, and the film being a let down, if only because it teased at so much more.

The overlong running times of his films don't exactly help either.

[thedude]

I would love to see Nolan do something low budget and small again, after Batman Ends that is.