Christopher Nolan

Ian Nathan, who lives and works in London, is one of the UK's best-known film writers. He is the author of nine previous books, including Alien Vault, the best-selling history of Ridley Scott's masterpiece, Terminator Vault, Tarantino, Tim Burton, The Coen Brothers and Anything You Can Imagine: Peter Jackson and the Making of Middle-earth. He is the former editor and executive editor of Empire, the world's biggest movie magazine, where he remains a contributing editor. He also regularly contributes to The Times, The Independent, The Mail on Sunday, Cahiers Du Cinema and the Discovering Film documentary series on Sky Arts.

This comprehensive and in-depth study delves into the life and works of one of modern films most celebrated, successful and intriguing auteurs, Christopher Nolan.

'What is the most resilient parasite? Bacteria? A virus? An intestinal worm? An idea. Resilient...highly contagious. Once an idea has taken hold of the brain it's almost impossible to eradicate.' - Cobb, Inception

How has Nolan become this leading director? Is he the new Kubrick? What do audiences get out of his games?

Visually, he offers a steely science-fiction noir with the highlights of big stars and a magician's flourishes, whether he is tackling Victorian London or the far reaches of outer space. In narrative terms, his films twist and turn, provoking as many questions as they answer.

This book will look to crack open the magic box of Nolan's twisting universe. As a character, he eludes easy answers. Veteran film author Ian Nathan's research will lean into deciphering his cryptic pronouncements and motivations alongside the history and making of his films.

Examining both the making of and the inspiration behind his many, many hit films, from The Prestige (2006) to the hugely successful Batman films, through to his mind-bending science fiction works such as Inception (2014) and Tenet (2020). And just released in 2023, Oppenheimer,starring Cillian Murphy as the film's titular American scientist and his role in the development of the atomic bomb.

Filled with fascinating insights and illustrated throughout with cinematography from his visually stunning ouvre, this book offers a unique, important and unmissable insight into the mind of this most brilliant of directors.

An engaging and in-depth examination of the work of Christopher Nolan, one of the most revered directors working in modern cinema. Best known for his cerebral, often nonlinear, storytelling, over the course of 15 years of filmmaking, Nolan has gone from low-budget independent films to working on some of the biggest blockbusters ever made.

INTRODUCTION
THE HYBRID KID
The early days and Following (1998)
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
Memento (2000) & Insomnia (2002)
THE INTIMIDATION GAME
Batman Begins (2005)
THE TRANSPORTED MEN
The Prestige (2006)
WHY SO SERIOUS?
The Dark Knight (2008)
HEAD SPINNING
Inception (2010)
THE BIG GOODBYE
The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
THE FIFTH DIMENSION
Interstellar (2014)
ON THE BEACH
Dunkirk (2017)
APOCALYPTIC THINKING
Tenet (2020) Oppenheimer (2023)
SOURCES