The 8 Hallmarks of a Christopher Nolan Film

Christian Zilko
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Love him or hate him, there’s no denying that Christopher Nolan has had a singular impact on the American film industry. It’s almost depressing how many of his epithets are preceded by “the last.” He’s essentially the last director who receives consistent blank checks to make original films. The last director whose name is enough to pique the general public’s interest, regardless of subject matter. And the last director who could make a three hour biopic and have it (successfully!) marketed as a summer blockbuster. 

At least for now.

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Whether Nolan’s consistent success is a sign of better days to come in Hollywood or a final hurrah for a dying industry, his influence remains unparalleled. He forever redefined the superhero movie — creating a template that’s often repeated but never duplicated — with his groundbreaking trilogy of Batman movies. He could have rested on his comic book laurels forever after the cultural phenomenon that was “The Dark Knight,” but he quickly proved that his original ideas were equally marketable with the groundbreaking “Inception.” It was immediately clear that Hollywood had found its next great blockbuster filmmaker.

For the next decade, Nolan took advantage of his newfound creative freedom by making a wide range of original blockbusters. Films like “Interstellar” and “Tenet” had a tendency to reinforce everyone’s strongest opinions about him. To some, he was a man of unparalleled brilliance with an unprecedented ability to infuse popcorn storytelling with hard science. To others, he was a cold filmmaker who hid behind complex storytelling devices to make films that were designed to impress viewers rather than move them. 

The truth is somewhere in between. Any serious criticism of Nolan has to begin with an acknowledgement of his talent, and any hagiography has to recognize that the same criticisms of his films have emerged again and again. One thing that’s abundantly clear is that Nolan has developed an instantly recognizable style. From his commitment to analog techniques and epic exhibition formats to his sleek color palettes and not-so-sleek sound design, you always know a Christopher Nolan movie when you see one. Keep reading for our primer on the stylistic elements that set the “Oppenheimer” director apart from his peers. 

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