Christopher Nolan
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- This article is about the film director. For the award-winning Irish author, see Christopher Nolan (author).
 Christopher Nolan |
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| Born: | July 30, 1970 London, England |
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| Occupation: | Film director, and screenwriter. |
| Spouse: | Emma Thomas |
Christopher Nolan (born July 30, 1970) is an Academy Award nominated film director, writer and producer. The son of an English father and American mother, Nolan is a dual citizen of the United Kingdom and United States. He is married to Emma Thomas, his longtime producer. They have three children together.
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[edit] Early life
Nolan began film-making at age of seven using his father's Super 8 camera and his toy action figures. While living in the Chicago area as a child, he also made short films with future director and producer Roko Belic.
Nolan studied English literature at University College London while filming several short films in the college film society. His short film Tarantella was shown on Image Union, an independent film and video showcase featured on PBS, in 1989. Another short film of his, Larceny, was shown during Cambridge Film Festival in 1996. He married Emma Thomas in 1997.
[edit] Themes
Nolan's work is often based around an emotional or conceptual theme, often associated additionally with guilt. Memento is about guilt (Leonard's failure to save his wife and inability to remember what he has done about it since) and the human reliance on memory. Insomnia is about guilt (Dormer accidentally kills a friend) and the human reliance on sleep. Batman Begins is about guilt (Bruce Wayne's belief that he was responsible for the deaths of his parents) and the nature of fear. In The Prestige, Nolan focuses on guilt (Angier's anger over what happened to his wife) and the idea of obsession (the rivalry of the two magicians).
Another is that of a protagonist as a vigilante hero. In Memento, Leonard takes it upon himself to avenge the apparent murderer of his dead wife. Insomnia's Detective Dormer plants evidence to incriminate criminals who escape 'the system'. He secretly works behind the backs of the authorities to reach his own sense of justice. In Batman Begins, billionaire Bruce Wayne takes to the streets as an avenging superhero, preying on the criminals that go unpunished by the police.
He is also known for using non-linear storytelling. This was most notable in his films Following, Memento and The Prestige where scenes are shown out of sequence, often causing the viewer to question what is really happening in the story. His films Insomnia and Batman Begins have a more linear storytelling format, but still heavily incorporate flashbacks into the plot.
Nolan also seems to be a fan of the British rock band, Radiohead, as in Memento he tried using Paranoid Android by Radiohead for the closing credits. This couldn't be done due to the budget of the movie itself. However in The Prestige, the song to the ending credits, include "Analyse", a song from Thom Yorke's (Radiohead's frontman) solo album, "The Eraser."
[edit] Professional career
[edit] Following
Nolan directed his first feature film, Following, in 1996. The film depicts the story of a writer who becomes obsessed with following random people. Scenes are shown out of chronological order, and as such the viewer becomes disoriented, having to piece together the elements of the story in the same way as the protagonist pieces together what is going on around him.
Nolan made the film for just $6,000. He shot it on weekends over the course of a year, working with friends he had met at the University College London film society. It began to receive notice after premiering at the San Francisco Film Festival of 1998, and was eventually distributed on a limited basis by Zeitgeist in 1999.
As a result of the film's success, Newmarket optioned the script for his next film, 'Memento'.
[edit] Memento
While not a gargantuan hit but still a box office success, Memento (2000) is a critically acclaimed cult classic and was nominated for both a Golden Globe and an Academy Award (Oscar) for best screenplay.
The movie, based on a short story written by Christopher's brother Jonathan Nolan titled Memento Mori, follows widower Leonard Shelby (played by English-born Australian actor Guy Pearce) who, as a result of a head injury delivered by his wife's rapist and murderer, is unable to form new memories. What distinguishes the film within its genre is Nolan's technique in presenting events within the storyline partially in reverse-chronological order and in chronological order. Using this technique, Nolan forces viewers to relate with the mentally-impaired protagonist, since they encounter each event disoriented.
The same method of disorientating audiences is used in Nolan's previous film Following, which is very much a precursor to the production of Memento. Following, however, presents a three-act structure in which the three acts are cut together, whereas Memento presents two linear timelines—one running forwards, one backwards—which are cut together and meet in the middle. The changeover from forwards to backwards is signified by the transition from black and white film stock to color.
As of 2006, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) ranks Memento at number twenty-five in its list of the top 250 films of all time. IMDb's rankings [1] are based on ratings by Internet users.
[edit] Insomnia
In 2002 Nolan directed Insomnia, an American remake of a 1997 Norwegian film of the same name (although with major changes in both the plot and the nature of the main character). The plot involves two detectives brought to Alaska to assist local authorities locate a killer. However, the search occurs during the "sunny" season in Alaska, and the film's protagonist, Al Pacino, is unable to sleep because of the constant light. His days without sleep lead to bad decisions and Nolan's characteristic confusion, for both the protagonist and the viewer. The film also stars Robin Williams, and Hilary Swank.
[edit] Mr. Hughes
Prior to the announcement by Martin Scorsese that he was planning to make The Aviator, Nolan had begun scripting his own biopic of Howard Hughes, to star Jim Carrey. Nolan, in an interview with Empire dated July 2005, stated, "I guess I just didn't write quickly enough." The project was ultimately abandoned.
[edit] Batman Begins
Nolan had said that while he was content with his directing resumé, he had always dreamed as a child to direct a big blockbuster film, and he got his first opportunity to do so in 2003.
In 1997, Warner Bros., owner of the Batman movie franchise, released Batman and Robin, directed by Joel Schumacher. The film received mostly negative reviews and earned the least box office revenue out of the series, forcing Warner Bros. to cancel any sequels and put the franchise on indefinite hiatus.
Six years later, Nolan, together with Blade screenwriter David S. Goyer, pitched the idea of restarting the franchise with a serious origin story. Warner Bros. took the risk of hiring the relatively unknown director to direct the fifth installment of one of their biggest franchises. Batman Begins was released on June 15, 2005 and has become a solid box office hit, ranking as the third biggest blockbuster of the summer. The movie received a very positive critical and public reception, with many ranking it as superior to even the 1989 version. Batman Begins was also seen as having a dark but intelligent storyline and strong emphasis on characterization, two aspects that many summer blockbusters are known to lack.
As of 2006, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) ranks Batman Begins at number 84 in its list of the top 250 films of all time. IMDb's rankings are based on ratings by IMDb users. [2]
[edit] The Prestige
The Prestige, released on 20 October 2006, is an adaptation of the Christopher Priest novel of the same name about two rival magicians in the 19th century. It reunites him with Batman Begins stars Christian Bale and Michael Caine. Hugh Jackman and David Bowie also appear. The film was co-scripted by his brother, Jonathan Nolan.
[edit] Upcoming projects
[edit] The Exec
Based upon the graphic novel of the same name, The Exec shows future business played out as war. The screenplay is to be written by Christopher's brother Jonathan.
[edit] The Keys To The Street
While Nolan wrote the screenplay for this adaptation of the Ruth Rendell novel, he looks unlikely to direct it, reportedly since it "has a lot in common with the three films [Nolan has] made". [3]
[edit] The Dark Knight
In the months following the film's release, Nolan made numerous comments suggesting that he would return to direct the sequel to Batman Begins. [4] In late July 2006, the sequel was officially confirmed as The Dark Knight with Nolan at the helm and Heath Ledger joining the cast as The Joker, Batman's arch-nemesis. [5] According to Variety, Jonathan Nolan will write the script, based on a treatment written by David S. Goyer.
[edit] The Prisoner
Universal Pictures is near a deal for Christopher Nolan to direct a feature version of TV series classic The Prisoner. The series ran for 17 episodes in 1967. Patrick McGoohan played a government agent who resigns, is kidnapped and placed on an isolated island known as "The Village". He's given a new identity -- Number Six -- and interacts with an island staff trying to get him to reveal why he resigned. The screenplay adaptation comes from David Webb Peoples & Janet Peoples, the husband & wife writing team who last collaborated to bring us 12 Monkeys. The film will take place in modern day. This project will begin after Nolan completes work on The Dark Knight.
[edit] Director filmography
[edit] Major Motion Pictures
- Following (1998) (also writer-producer)
- Memento (2000) (also writer)
- Insomnia (2002)
- Batman Begins (2005) (also co-writer)
- The Prestige (2006)
- The Dark Knight (2008)
[edit] Short films
- Tarantella (1989) (Also writer-producer)
- Larceny (1996) (Also writer-producer)
- Doodlebug (1997) (Also writer-producer)
[edit] External links
| Batman in popular media | |
|---|---|
| Actors: | Lewis Wilson • Robert Lowery • Adam West • Olan Soule • Michael Keaton • Kevin Conroy • Val Kilmer • George Clooney • Rino Romano • Christian Bale • Casts |
| Live-action television: | Batman • Legends of the Superheroes • Birds of Prey • Return to the Batcave |
| Film: | 1940s serials • Batman (1966) • Batman (1989) • Batman Returns • Batman Forever • Batman & Robin • Batman Begins • The Dark Knight |
| Animation: | Batman/Superman Hour • New Adventures of Batman • Batman: The Animated Series/New Batman Adventures • Mask of the Phantasm • SubZero • Batman Beyond • Return of the Joker • Mystery of the Batwoman • The Batman • The Batman vs. Dracula |
Categories: 1970 births | English film directors | English film producers | English screenwriters | Living people | Old Haileyburians | Sundance Film Festival award winners | Edgar Award winners | University College London alumni | English-language film directors | People of Irish descent in Great Britain
