Christopher Nolan
Key Themes. • Stylistic features• Character types• Narrative type and structure• Is he an auteur?
Three films• Inception• The Dark Knight• Memento
Focus film
Inception2010
Supporting film 1
Memento 2000
Supporting film 2
The Dark Knight2008
Stylistic features• Cinematography• Mise-en scene• Editing• Sound
Editing• Cross-cutting• http://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmptU7vEkNU&list=PLh1cST01tOeeD8uedzzHsTHC2aWiPn1NL
Cinematography• Worked with the same cinematographer since Memento.
Creating the signature Nolan style.• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNcsLE3SdmY• Wally Pfister director of photography
Mise-en scene• Not a lot of special effects needed. • Real location settings• Deep colours
Sound• Composer Hans Zimmer
Characters• Flawed heroes• Sympathise with villains• Sometimes unclear protagonist/antagonist
Joker - Heath Ledger Joker – Jack Nicholson
Narrative structure• Backwards narrative – Memento
Nolan’s team• Habit of finding people he likes and sticking with them.
Auteur or not?• In spite of the production of the film as part of an industrial
process, the auteur's creative voice is distinct enough to shine through all kinds of studio interference and through the collective process
• He is an Auteur
Doodlebug – Short film 1997• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1HzZqwsYOM