Happy Birthday Mr. Nolan! Christopher Nolan is one of the most revered directors of the 21st Century. He raises the bar of cinema with his every new venture. The audacious nature of his films, be it in scale or craft, makes him a stand-out amongst his contemporaries. Despite his prowess as a film director, the surprising thing about him is that he too didn’t attend any film school. He didn’t take any formal education in films. All that he does is his natural talent and experience. He has a huge fanbase, any film that has his name on it will work on the box office for sure. His career spans over two decades and today on his 53rd birthday, let’s gander over his phenomenal career that has numerous gems for cinema. All Nolan films on their own are great but in comparison to his other films well…we’ll see.
12) Following
This is the first film of Christopher Nolan. The film introduces us to a young writer, who follows people in London to use their lives as inspiration in his novels. However, soon this hobby becomes an obsession. The film follows a non-linear narrative. Yes, Nolan started playing with time and structure in his very first film. While the film suffers from a minuscule budget of only $6000, you can see that the script of the film had potential if only Nolan had a good budget to make it on. While the film doesn’t really makes sense for its first hour or so but as it culminates, Following gives you a very young Nolan vibe.
11) Insomnia
Insomnia is Christopher Nolan’s big break into Hollywood, which he made after Memento. Christopher Nolan adapted this film from a Swedish film of the same name directed by Erik Skjoldbjærg. The film follows a police detective investigating a teenage girl’s murderer. Things take a turn when the murderer begins to trap our detective in a game of cat and mouse exploiting our protagonist’s guilt. The film stars Hollywood legends Al Pacino and Robbin Williams. The film is well crafted but it falls behind Nolan’s other films that have set the bar too high. However, the film won’t fail to impress you.
10) Tenet
Christopher Nolan’s attempt to save cinemas was a bit of a misfire. I think everyone can agree with this. The film was undoubtedly the biggest in scale and concept that Nolan has ever gone. The filmmaker had mentioned that he wanted to make a film of this concept since he made Memento, where the first shot of the film is a bullet going back into the gun. He finally made it but the audacious nature of the film couldn’t make up from the lack of human emotions in it. While many consider that the film is simply ahead of its time and would be considered a masterpiece in the years to come, I don’t agree with them. The film is beautifully shot and directed but the story undermines the film. If you’ve not seen the film you should, its a good watch but you won’t be able to resist your urge to complain after you’ve watched it.
9) Batman Begins
The first film of the Dark Knight Trilogy is supremely underrated. Batman Begins gave birth to the holiest of movie trilogies we’ve ever gotten. Nolan proved that comic books films can also be considered cinema. His gritty take on the caped crusader worked wonders. Fans loved Christian Bale as Batman and some, including me still consider him the best iteration of the Dark Knight we’ve seen. Pattinson is a close call though. The film follows a young Bruce Wayne who comes to terms with his calling of being the protector of Gotham. It comes so low on the list as it was the first film of the trilogy and the best was yet to come.
8) Dunkirk
There is nothing wrong with this film to land so low on this list. Fun fact, this is Christopher Nolan’s best film according to Quentin Tarantino. This is the classic case of other films being better that it makes everything else look mediocre. This film is really great in what it is trying to say. Dunkirk follows groups of soldiers trapped in Dunkirk and how various means are employed to get them out of there. If you’re planning to watch this film remember this hint, the film is actually going backwards. Now don’t get pissed off on me. Many people don’t realize this even after multiple viewings, that’s why I mentioned.
7) Interstellar
Interstellar is one of the best sci-fi films anyone has ever made. Physicists claim that the depiction of the Black Hole in the film is the most accurate yet. The film just suffers from a weighty runtime that could’ve been shorter. Interstellar banks on the relationship of a father and daughter. While the film’s themes are universal, there are some moments in the film that feel as if Nolan has gone a tad overdramatic. Anne Hathaway’s monologue about how love defies everything always makes me chuckle even if it isn’t meant to be. Otherwise, Interstellar is a sci-fi film no one should miss.
6) Oppenheimer
I think this is the film you were waiting for. I’ll get it straight out of the way, Oppenheimer is not Nolan’s best. It is not even close. Despite packing in some brilliant performances from Cillian Murphy, Robert Downey Jr. and Emily Blunt the film fails to surpass the brilliance of Nolan’s top 5. The non-linear structure, sound design and layered protagonist makes Oppenheimer a biopic of the highest caliber, maybe the best till date but still suffers from some unavoidable issues. If you want to know more check out full review then click here.
5) The Dark Knight Rises
The final chapter in the Dark Knight trilogy is absolutely worth it. The perfect conclusion to the saga that started out by Batman Begins. While the film suffers from a baggy runtime and some forced plot points. All these things don’t hold up in the long run as the film makes you feel so many emotions in the in its runtime. There are so many crows pleasing moments that hit. I still remember the last shot of the film. This film too resolves with a montage sequence that is a staple of any Christopher Nolan film. The BGM and the emotions associated with it are so overwhelming. The film continues The Dark Knight’s story and gives us a satisfying conclusion.
4) The Prestige
This is film the 2nd most underrated Nolan film. I’ll reveal the most underrated soon. The Prestige to some extent is the most “Nolany” film you’ll find. The film follows two young magicians who are seeking for greatness in their field. This is a story of how their struggle to topple each other to seat themselves at the throne. The ruthless ambitions that both of them have in the film is uncomfortable to watch as they stop at nothing. The film has a sci-fi element that helps the story in more than one way. The film has some surprises and twists up its sleeve that you never see coming but once you do, you feel how did I not see that?
3) Inception
From now on this list becomes so much more subjective. The top three films I have on this list are so good that it is very difficult for me to rank them but somehow I have conjured the courage. Inception is the best sci-fi film Christopher Nolan has ever made. The film plays with a concept that is so personal to all of us – dreams. It is a heist film that takes place in people’s dreams. However, the strongest suit of the film is not its concept. Its the emotional quotient of the film. The personal demons and the backstory of the protagonist makes the film so much better than anything you’ve ever seen. If you haven’t seen it yet, what are you doing? Go watch it now.
2) The Dark Knight
I mean do I really have to talk about this film? The people who know about the film will not hear anything new. It is extraordinary. Just know this is the best film Christopher Nolan has ever made to some extent. At least IMDb would agree. The Dark Knight was the first comic book film where an actor was nominated for an Academy Award and even won it. That actor is Heath Ledger. It is the best iteration of the Joker anyone has ever seen. This film has one of the best unity of opposites. This is the best comic book film ever made, no MCU or DCEU film even comes close to it. The Dark Knight made Christopher Nolan a household name and not an elite filmmaker who just makes artsy films.
1) Memento
It is okay if you’ve never heard of this film. This is the most underrated film of his career. Memento is Christopher Nolan’s Hollywood debut and what a debut it was. This film shook everyone for its audacious nature. The entire film is told backwards. The film questions the answers it is asking. Didn’t make sense right? The film is so clever that you need two viewings to understand it. You never know what is going on in the film until the very end but even if you don’t understand the film, it has this uncanny quality to keep you hooked with the strong drama it has in store. Guy Pearce is amazing in the film. Nolan accomplished everything in this film he set out to do in Following. The way he plays with time and structure is admirable. Many won’t agree with me but trust me this is Christopher Nolan’s best film yet.
The World Is Changing in near theatres near you.
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