Are Christopher Nolan movies a recent craze or has the man always delivered us with pieces that not only pique our excitement but, also stand tall on the expectations that we place on them? We think, Nolan has always been a master filmmaker and his upcoming release Oppenheimer is just going to be another feather in his ever-shinning cap of gold.
Ahead of Oppenheimer’s release, we are here to tell you five things about the director’s filmmaking style that has always made him stand out of the crowd. So sit back and dive into the nitty-gritty details of the Nolan verse that will convince you that this man and his vision are one of a kind.
5 Things to Know About Christopher Nolan Movies
Exploration of Metaphysical Themes
Christopher Nolan is one director you go to for sure if you are a physics and philosophy nerd. The man has explored mathematics emotionally and love oh-so logically through his wide array of films that will surely inspire you to reflect and ponder upon the reality of things around you. From Interstellar to Inception, most of Nolan’s films deal with the first philosophy where we have protagonists seek definitive answers in this morally grey world that evokes deeper findings on self, identity and more.
Timeless Music
Nolan is responsible for giving birth to one of the most iconic music albums for decades now. Be it his collaboration with David Julyan or Hans Zimmer, the way the music holds a Nolan movie together is impossible to put into words. Music truly plays an important in the storytelling process that many cine-goers might not realise. It is music that breathes life into the hero’s redemption arc or the villain’s raging rise. Christopher Nolan has always used it perfectly to aid his film in a way that sucks us in. The pocket watch synthesization for Dunkirk’s Shepard Tone is just the right example that comes into our minds to remind us of Nolan’s musical brilliance in movies.
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Familiar Casting
There is always a comfort in knowing certain actors and certain characters they are destined to play. It really helps the trust-building process between the filmmaker and his audience and, leaves us hopeful. Be it the as an actor, producer, composer or costume designer, Nolan has a set of people he falls back on, which makes us inevitably fall back on them. So far, nothing has disappointed us.
Some of the frequent collaborators that we see Christopher Nolan work with include Michael Caine (actor), Nathan Crowley (production designer), Richard King (sound designer), John Papsidera (casting director), Wally Pfister (cinematographer), Gary Rizzo (sound mixer), Emma Thomas (Nolan’s wife and a producer for all his films ever), Hans Zimmer (composer) amongst several others. In fact, Oppenheimer which stars Cillian Murphy in the leading role is not the first collaboration between the two. The actor-director duo have previously worked on The Dark Knight Trilogy, Inception and Dunkirk.
The Social Commentary
If you look closely enough, a Nolan movie is never without a social or political commentary. Although the director has denied that any of his films are meant to be political in nature, it seems impossible to register that after you have watched, say, The Dark Knight Trilogy or Dunkirk. Yes, Batman is a character that is always used to show the struggles of being a hero in the shadows and the corruption and criminals a society thrives on that contribute to making the rich richer. However, the way Nolan uses Christian Bale’s Batman character development arc only hints towards one thing- the director naively calling out the right, wrong and morally grey areas of society.
Experimentation and Intuition
Last but not least, the holy Nolan trinity is present in every film this man has ever made. Nolan makes a blockbuster feel like a niche art film because he never shies away from taking a risk with experimentation. The director’s heart resides in his films and is clearly guided by intuition- I mean, just look at all the projects he has ever been a part of! What Nolan takes on to do is never easy but, the fact that he has the heart to take it and, ultimately deliver a piece as fine as, say, The Prestige is incredible.
Oppenheimer is scheduled to arrive on July 21, 2023.
Are you excited to watch this Nolan film? Let us know your thoughts in the comments down below!