1. Auteur Theory
Christopher Nolan

2. Introduction Born July 30, 1970 in London, England
His mother was from America, his dad was from England
Began film making at age 7 with a super 8 camera he got from his father
Attended University College London where he studied English literature and graduated in 1993
He calls himself a “jack-of-all- trades and master of none”

4. Early Film Career Producing Corporate Training Videos Short Films
Doodle Bug
Tarantella
Larceny

5. Movies Directed Following Memento Insomnia Batman Begins The Prestige
The Dark Knight
Inception
The Dark Knight Rises
Interstellar

6. Nolan’s Plot
A mans wife/ girlfriend/ partner dies causing him to become mentally unstable
Memento: Wife is murdered, Protagonist develops amnesia
Inception: Wife commits suicide, Protagonist feels guilt and repeatedly imagines being killed by her
Dark Knight: Girlfriend dies, Protagonist feels guilt and goes into seclusion for eight years

7. Nolan’s Theme Two Major Themes Duality or Doubling
Mentor – Apprentice Relationships
These themes are frequently conveyed or contested by theatricality and deception

8. Nolan’s Style Visual Style Acting and story telling style
Expository dialogue
Non-chronological stories
Characters use florid Language
Dark and twisted
Atmospheric and obsessive
Deception and lies
Use of mazes, impossibilities, and paradoxes
Repeating cast
Michael Caine, Christian Bale, Cillian Murphy, Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman, Marion Cotillard, Joseph Gordan-Levitt, Liam Neeson, etc.
Visual Style
Urban settings
Muted Colors
Color Patterns
Characters wear costumes, heavy make-up, tattoos or business suits
Invisible Style
Dark
Many scenes include elements that obscure vision

12. Cinematography Realistic Practical Minimal use of CGI
Rarely breaks “Rule of Third,” unless he wants us to feel uneasy
Shifts points of view
Clear points of view, focuses on what he wants us to see
Uses all forms of camera movement
Beginning scenes uses wide shots then moves into close-ups

18. Music and Sounds Sound Very little looping Loud Intense Realistic
Invisible Style
Music
Hans Zimmer
Scores
No modern music

19. Conclusion Christopher Nolan is considered a beginning director
Self taught
Repeatedly uses similar Plot, Theme and Style is all his movies
Psychological
Realistic
Dark
Obsessive
Awesome!

20. References
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