2. BASIC INFORMATION (AWARDS AND INFLUENCES)
• Nolan was born on 30 July 1970
• Best known for his cerebral, often nonlinear story-telling, acclaimed writer-director. Over the course of 15 years of
film-making, Nolan has gone from low-budget independent films to working on some of the biggest blockbusters
ever made such as: The Dark knight in 2008, inception in 2010 and memento in 2000.
• In 2010, Nolan captivated audiences with the acclaimed sci -fi thriller Inception, which he directed and produced.
• Nolan is a British-American film director, screenwriter, and producer.
• Nolan has won many many awards in his years of being a director, such as; Best action movie for inception in 2010,
Best action movie for The Dark Knight from critics choice awards and was also nominated for the Golden globes and
BAFTA’S
• He also has 4 children.
• Directing career - Nolan's major film debut, Following, was a black-and-white, small-budget work about a lonely
writer who's obsessed with following strangers and then partners with a burglar. The film's unconventional, non -
linear narrative scheme helped garner interest in Nolan's work and propelled him to his next film, Memento.
• Christopher’ doesn’t talk about people that influenced him but about characters and work that influenced him. The
filmmaker discussed artists including Francis Bacon and how they influenced his work in an interview with The Tate
Britain. Heath Ledger played the anarchic, villainous clown in Nolan's 2008 film and was given a posthumous Oscar
for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the role.
• http://www.nolanfans.com/bio
3. EXAMPLES OF FILMS
Memento
(2000)
Inception
(2010)
The Dark
knight
(2008
The Dark
Knight Rises
(2012)
The
Prestige
(2006)
Insomnia
(2002)
4. INCEPTION
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VXkUzf1et4
• Inception was produced and in cinemas in 2012, which became one of the best and most
exciting thrillers ever made.
• Inception is a complex thriller, which with holds confusion, excitement and mind games.
• Leonardo Dicaprio plays Cobb and Joseph Gordon Levitt plays Arthur, they both are the
main characters in Nolan's movie
• “Christopher Nolan's typically tricky brain-twister casts Leonardo DiCaprio as head of an
industrial espionage crew. Peter Bradshaw admires the film's dizzying flourishes” The
Guardian only gave Inception a 3 star rating out of 5.
• Where as The empire gave Inception a 5 star rating and describe it as “Christopher
Nolan’s exquisite equation of dreams and death... and shit blowing up”.
5. NARRATIVE
• During this movie we witness many different characters and especially in the opening. We are
first to meet Cobb (Leonardo) laying on the beach and being found by a guard.
• Key feature's that I noticed frequently during the opening was the suspense, tension and
mystery. During this whole film we see a lot of confusion on who's the protagonist and
antagonist, as everyone is committing different crimes such as: shooting, murders, drugs and
kidnapping. We see the complex character Ariadne which we see as being the ‘good guy’
however turns out she’s trying to kill and catch Cobb.
• We see that a key convention in Thrillers is to have Crime and reengage occurring as a theme.
• A key event we see frequently happening is the ‘dream’ we are never sure when they have
woken up form, what we can suppose is a dream. We are seeing them waking up and the
audience are thinking they have come back to reality when actually were fooled and there still
in this dream world of fighting.
• We also see the main key convention of a thriller is to not give anything away in the opening
and Inception does this very well as we are confused on what's happening
6. CAMERA
Pov, is making us feel like were
the character and we witness
this when were looking out of
Arthurs eyes at the crowd.
Over the Shoulder which is used
to show us the riots out side and
so we can feel apart of the action
alongside Arthur.
Close up’s which is significant of
the spinner, this is to highlight
the importance. The camera is
focused on the top of the spinner
it suggests that the top also
plays an important role in the
film, however we are unable to
conclude what the top
represents.
Pan is also used to make the
action fast paced and to help us
as the audience feel apart of the
action when Cobb is running in
the building into the room.
7. SOUND AND EDITING
The music isn’t just adding intense it adds a
mystery to the scene as we also hear a key
song which:
ishttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsKgXZ
HofRo
Exaggerated sound on the ticking of the clock
and this therefore highlights that time is
against them.
As the action develops the sound becomes
louder and more intense
Slow Motion is used to show the difference
between the “dream” world and reality
We also see face p[ace being used a lot
during to the fighting scenes taking place.
8. MISE EN SCENE
Opening location is a
washed up beach,
which is confusing
because it doesn't’t
seem to fit the plot?
Gun’s are a recurring
prop. This shows crime
is happening and we
see everyone with guns
therefore this doesn't’t
help us figure out who's
good and who's bad?
Lighting is extremely
dark in places as we
see a lot of dark
shadows.
The costumes are mainly
classy clothing, as we see
Copp and Arthur in suits
most of the time this
therefore could mean they
are possibly spy's. As its
stereotypical to hace a spy
in a suit
9. DARK KNIGHT RISES
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
• Dark knight rises was produced in 2012 and was apart of a trilogy of many films.
• Dark knight rises is a simple but exciting and effective thriller filled with lots of crime and
revenge.
• ‘Christopher Nolan brings the curtain down on his grim Batman trilogy with Wagnerian
confidence – but Heath Ledger's absence is sorely felt’ This is from the Guardian and they
gave this film a 3 out of 5 stars.
• Empire gave a 5 star rating and called it ‘Unmissable’
• Our 2 main characters are Christian Bale playing Batman and Tom Hardy who plays Bain.
• It has been argued that this film is not a thriller film and contains a action adventure part
of it also. However this film does contain many features a key conventions of a thriller
therefore in my opinion it is a thriller.
10. NARRATIVE
• During this opening we witness seeing the villains such as Bain, we are introduced into a
fight scene with Bain and his side kicks.
• This thriller is a exciting, tension rising and simple thriller compared to many others.
• However still withholds many key conventions such as Crime and revenge takes place as
a main theme throughout.
• We see that Bain already is playing to take down the government and commit crime
• We also see darkness and a certain edge of mystery during this film as we never seem to
find out what Bain is planning. This adds to the tension and suspense, as its annoying for
the audience to not know what's going on.
11. CAMERAWORK
Over the shoulder is used
straight away to bring us
into the audience while the
cop/agent is talking to
someone boarding the
plane
Wide shot is used on the
location we see them
boarding the plane and this
creates a exciting view for
us to see where they are.
Also showing us the attack
that’s about to take place
Mid shot on Bain as we are
seeing him kneeing down
this is done to show us the
relationship between
characters and his body
language.
Close up on Bane as this is
to highlight the mask is a
important feature on Bane
12. SOUND AND EDITING
The music starts clam
then brings suspense into
the fight scene straight
away, we see this use as
non-diegetic.
Fast pace is used a lot in
the opening as it’s a quick
action with bane over
taking the plane. This
creates a sense of
excitement also.
Slow pace is used in the
first couple of minutes to
show the action growing
and not much is going on
the we get the contrast of
the face pace which hits
us suddenly
Exaggerated sound is
used a lot in the opening
for the guns and for banes
voice by making it louder
then it should be to
highlight the action
13. MISE EN SCENE
Everyone is the opening is
wearing dark and dull clothing
throughout this and especially
Banes men are all in black
this is hinting to us that in
thrillers there are dark
clothing
Guns are also a essential
prop to this opening because
it’s the main weapon used
and also shows us that crime
is taking place. Everyone has
them
The mask is also a
costume and a prop for
bane however this is a
essential look and key
feature on bane as we
learn the history later on.
The location is mainly in the
sky throughout this scene
and this creates a sense of
aloneness which means no
one can hear them or see
them therefore making it a
good place to attack
