12. Following (1998)
Nolan’s first feature film, although small in scale, displayed considerable potential. Filmed on weekends using black and white film, Nolan served as both director and cinematographer, resulting in a unique and unpredictable story with unexpected twists. While it may have a student-esque feel, it foreshadows the polished and refined work that Nolan would produce in the future.
11. Insomnia (2002)
Nolan’s introduction to Hollywood came through this movie that took place in Alaska and followed a detective dealing with sleep deprivation. He found himself in the company of well-known studio personalities, including Al Pacino and Robin Williams, who played against type. Though it was a remake of a popular Norwegian thriller from five years prior, it was not as unique as Nolan’s other films. However, he navigated the complex and morally ambiguous plot well and executed some impressive scenes.
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10. The Prestige (2006)
Sandwiched between his first two Batman films, this always seemed like a bit of an outlier in the Nolanverse. Time hasn’t really altered things. The tale of 19th-century stage magicians, played by Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale, who start a feud over an elaborate teleportation trick (which ends up involving early electricity’s magic man, Nikola Tesla, as impersonated by David Bowie), The Prestige has a distinctly steampunk vibe. Despite Nolan’s customary commitment to his material, in retrospect, he’s not in his comfort zone.
9. Tenet (2020)
By releasing his film Tenet during the peak of the Covid pandemic when cinemas were shut down, Nolan gained significant recognition and praise. This was particularly important as it seemed to pose a threat to the entire Hollywood industry. However, out of his three grand and large-scale sci-fi masterpieces, Tenet may be the one that is least fulfilling. The movie revolves around an intense time-travel story about a future terror attack and the secret group attempting to stop it. Nolan, as always, puts all his effort into the complex and time-bending idea, but there’s a sense of heaviness in the way the story progresses. While John David Washington is a skilled dramatic actor, his portrayal may be lacking in the lead role.
The film released in 2012, titled “The Dark Knight Rises”.
Nolan revived the Batman series with a strong effort, bringing relief to DC and Warner Bros who had faced negative fan reactions to Joel Schumacher’s previous attempts in the 1990s. The final section of the Christian Bale trilogy was a resounding success. Some critics took issue with Tom Hardy’s raspy and mumbled performance as supervillain Bane, who wore a respirator similar to Darth Vader’s. However, overall, it was a satisfactory conclusion. Bringing Batman out of his self-imposed isolation in the previous film left the franchise in a good position.
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7. Memento (2000)
Memento was the film that marked Nolan’s entrance into the film industry, a cleverly crafted noir that breathed new life into a familiar storyline about amnesia, often seen in thrillers since the 1940s. Nolan showcased his talent for directing top-notch actors, with Guy Pearce, fresh off his success from LA Confidential, portraying a character who seeks revenge but suffers from anterograde amnesia. The film utilizes color and black-and-white imagery to differentiate between two timelines, a technique that Nolan would later use again. While the film may seem to explore themes of identity and self, its main focus is its captivating presentation.
6. Batman Begins (2005)
Warner Bros faced a difficult task in rebooting Batman after its unsuccessful 90s installment. The pressure was on to nail it this time. Director Christopher Nolan took a completely different approach than Joel Schumacher’s “Batman & Robin,” which was panned by critics. In Nolan’s version, Bruce Wayne (played by Christian Bale) is portrayed as brooding and intense. He embarks on a quest around the world in search of himself before returning to Gotham, donning the iconic Batsuit and driving the Batmobile. The darker and more introspective tone of the film satisfied the expectations of fans, resulting in great success.
5. Interstellar (2014)
This galactically conceived space travel saga was the closest Nolan came to ripping off his spiritual mentor Stanley Kubrick; such was his devotion to 2001: A Space Odyssey, he even engineered an “unrestored” rerelease a few years later. Interstellar is not dissimilar: a big-ticket sci-fi that uses elaborate VFX to delve into some unvarnished human emotions. Nolan’s film doesn’t reach the same epic dimensions as Kubrick’s, but the exhaustively fleshed-out visions of alien landscapes and cosmic star fields are genuinely awe-inspiring.
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4. The Dark Knight (2008)
The remarkable visual design of Nolan’s movies can often overshadow and occasionally intimidate its human actors – but this was certainly not the case with the second installment of his Batman series. From César Romero to Jack Nicholson to Joaquin Phoenix, the role of the Joker has attracted exceptional talent, but Heath Ledger outshone them all with his incredible performance, for which he was posthumously awarded an Oscar for best supporting actor. In addition, Nolan unintentionally steered the superhero genre towards a more conventional, blockbuster style with this film and its sequel, appealing to wider audiences beyond just comic book fans.
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3. Inception (2010)
Sometimes, no matter how ridiculous a movie may get, you simply have to acknowledge that it has blown your mind. Even if everything else fades away, people will still remember the striking scene in Inception where the streets of Paris fold back upon the horizon, a testament to the power of genetic memory in the digital age. Leonardo DiCaprio, in his role as the unreliable narrator (also seen in Shutter Island), plays the investigator/manipulator who is tasked with pretending to know what is happening in director Christopher Nolan’s mind-bending dream world. It is a wild and magnificent piece of cinema, with Nolan utilizing every special effect imaginable to create a persuasive and intense pseudo-science that overwhelms the audience. And without a doubt, it succeeds.
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2. Dunkirk (2017)
Nolan’s initial exploration into more realistic historical storytelling added unexpected elements to his creative repertoire: precise and almost experimental cinematography, a decentralized narrative that does not give priority to any particular characters, and a relaxed appreciation of the larger societal forces at play during pivotal historical events. Released after the Brexit referendum, the film’s timing and themes appealed to the anti-EU group. Despite this, it is a masterful work from a skilled filmmaker; a humanized interpretation of the battlefield genre, with equal focus on the boredom and terror experienced by ordinary soldiers. There are, of course, brilliantly executed combat scenes, complete with deafening artillery bombardments and gruesome deaths; but this is not a glorification of war, nor is it a tribute to the resilient British spirit. Dunkirk simply reveals the hell that people were forced to endure, and their responses to it.
1. Oppenheimer (2023)
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Nolan’s second film about World War II focuses on a topic that resonates with all of us: the fear of imminent nuclear destruction. Surprisingly, the actual explosions are limited in this film about atomic bombs. However, when the main explosion occurs, it is significant. Nolan has cleverly created a film filled with discussions and debates, using a mix of timelines to showcase J Robert Oppenheimer’s scientific career, his political and personal loyalties (and betrayals), and his efforts to defend himself from a political trap. With fewer grand-scale scenes, Nolan allows two talented actors to shine. Cillian Murphy delivers a stunning performance as Oppenheimer, with his captivating, distant gaze on full display. However, Robert Downey Jr. steals the show with his masterful portrayal of Lewis Strauss, Oppenheimer’s ally turned enemy. In the current political climate, it is almost jarring to see how seriously the American political system is depicted in this film. By shedding light on the corruption within their institutions, Oppenheimer may have achieved his greatest success.
Source: theguardian.com
