Christopher Nolan is known for his stylistic features in films like Inception, The Dark Knight, and Memento. He frequently works with the same cinematographer, Wally Pfister, to create signature visuals using techniques like cross-cutting. Nolan also favors flawed heroes, sympathetic villains, and ambiguous protagonist/antagonist relationships. While his films involve large production teams, Nolan's distinct creative voice as the writer and director marks him as an auteur.

1. Christopher Nolan

2. Key Themes.
• Stylistic features
• Character types
• Narrative type and structure
• Is he an auteur?

3. Three films
• Inception
• The Dark Knight
• Memento

4. Focus film
Inception
2010

5. Supporting film 1
Memento
2000

6. Supporting film 2
The Dark Knight
2008

7. Stylistic features
• Cinematography
• Mise-en scene
• Editing
• Sound

8. Editing
• Cross-cutting
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmptU7vEkNU&list=PLh1c
ST01tOeeD8uedzzHsTHC2aWiPn1NL

9. 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

10. Mise-en scene
• Not a lot of special effects needed.
• Real location settings
• Deep colours

11. Sound
• Composer Hans Zimmer

12. Characters
• Flawed heroes
• Sympathise with villains
• Sometimes unclear protagonist/antagonist

13. Joker - Heath LedgerJoker – Jack Nicholson

14. Narrative structure
• Backwards narrative – Memento

15. Nolan’s team
• Habit of finding people he likes and sticking with them.

16. 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

17. Doodlebug – Short film 1997
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1HzZqwsYOM