1. Inception
I move I can't stop loving. Deeply personal film for me, sometimes movies and specific events get locked together. Inception to me is about othology, the limits of relationships and suicide. The summer this came out in 2010, my father shot himself in the head. With a rifle. He survived. I spent that summer, the summer this movie came out taking care of him, and living with him. This expierence didn't repair our relationship, and since that, when I see him, I feel like i'm in the pressence of ghost. Inception is a fun movie, but one that makes me sad. The meaning I bring to it is outside of the movie, but I feel like it's have a conversation with me. Suicide is in all of Nolan's films, in every variety.
2. Dunkirk
Masterfully directed. Beautiful. Has Nolan's most beautiful images, the shot of the boys asleep on the beach, tinted green, with foam around them is my faviorite Nolan shot. The scene where Tom Hardy follows the german plane about the clouds is the best scene in Nolan's career, it's wordless, and ethereal.
3. The Prestige
I think this has Christian Bale and Hugh Jackmans best performances, they don't do immitations of real people, or wear prosthetics. It's is there most subtle acting. The genre bending and metahoprical balls this movie has is unreal. It's so dense. I remember Roger Ebert referred to it as: "satanic". I've never been able to get that out of my head. It's lovecraftian in it's ideas...losing your humanity to technology? or making the devil's bargain for pure artistic expression, but sacrificing yourself?
4. Dark Knight
Iconic! Instantly so. So entertaining.
5. Memento
Great! Amazing! Iconic!
6. Interstellar
Rewatched before Tenet. Gets better with every viewing. I love the texture in this film and I think Tessaract is one of Nolan's most potent images. I think it was some of Nolan's most confident filmmaking. I love it.
7. Tenet (this might go up on repeat viewings)
I've seen it twice. The final battle is amazing, I think with repeat viewings, looking for the markers, it reveals it's bravura brilliance. It's dunkirk in minature, all about small moments, from different Points-of-View. This movie is as much about suicide as inception is. Tenet is a suicide cult, one in which they are saving the world, at the expense of their individual lives.
8. Batman Begins
When this movie came out, i was 15, and living in a women's shelter. I was so excited for this movie! and it delivered, I was so happy. I was comic book obssessed. And it was the comic-book movie I was waiting for. Nolan's has gotten me through various points in my life, helping me navigate time.
9. Dark Knight Rises
A movie people like to shit on. There is clunky stuff in it. But, Bane is a truly great character. The prison pit is so aspirational. I think alot of people find Bruce Wayne in this movie to be a betrayal of the comic book Batman ideal. But, I think it's quite radical for Nolan to portray him as true manic depressive. Batman is suicidal in this movie, and he overcomes that. I find this movie to be Nolan's most hopeful.
10. Insomnia
Least interesting Nolan. Performances are great! Super re-watcheable.
11. Following
Really like it. Born filmmaker, love how grimey it is.
And with all of that. That'll be my last post on the forum. I overshared but needed to get something out of system. It disappoints me that Nolan has been turned on. Covid will be forever attached to his legacy. I think Tenet is a very interesting movie that shouldn't be dismissed.
Nolan has gotten me through alot, I can't wait for the next one.