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