Christopher Nolan is one of the best directors on the planet. The success of his latest biopic, Oppenheimer, is just proof that Nolan still hasn’t lost his touch and everything he makes still resonates with a wide audience.
We all know the story of his newest biopic about J. Robert Oppenheimer, the leader of the Manhattan Project and often called the “father of the atomic bomb.” But this is not Nolan’s first walk in the park. He has put out work after recognizable work that elevates cinema as a higher art form. So to honor this amazing director, here’s a look back on his most notable films.
Memento (2000)
Memento isn’t the first film that was the product of Nolan’s genius, but it was what put his name together with the greats. It tells the compelling story of a man with short-term memory loss whose sole purpose in life is to get revenge. Guy Pearce assumed the leading role and it was a heartbreaking, yet action-filmed portrayal.
The Dark Knight Trilogy (2005-2008)
Nolan put his spin on the classic character of Batman from the comics. But in true Nolan fashion, he dove deep into the core of the character. It wasn’t a Batman that the world has ever seen before. It dived into the psychological and emotional aspects not just of Batman, but of the villains themselves. Heath Ledger was awarded an Oscar posthumously for his performance as Joker in the trilogy.
Inception (2010)
Just shy of two years after the success of the last film in The Dark Knight Trilogy, Nolan put out another epic film, Inception. It stars Leonardo DiCaprio and is a mind-bending film that explores the human subconscious and how Nolan envisioned it to be.
Interstellar (2014)
If you’ve read this far, you’ll know that Nolan likes to challenge the realms of reality with every film he produces. Interstellar, went above and beyond the Earth to explore a fictional universe and give humanity a chance. The cinematography for this film was so epic, people still rewatch it to this day. There’s something about Interstellar exploring the vastness of space that resonates with a secret desire in all of us to venture outside our world.
Dunkirk (2017)
Dunkirk was different than his other films in that, he explores the realities of war, unlike his usual mix of fiction and fact. However, Dunkirk still became an epic war film because of how it tells the whole story from different timelines of the characters. This gives us a closer look at the character’s state of mind.
Tenet (2020)
This second-latest Nolan project has all you can ask for in an action film. It has espionage, time travel, and an intricate plot worthy to be on the list of the director’s films. However, the reception to the film was hindered by many factors, including the spread of the pandemic. Nevertheless, it is a film worth the watch.
Christoher Nolan and Easter Eggs
Christopher Nolan is known for longer films that try to explore the depths of a person’s character, mind, and reasoning. His dedication to cinema is evident in his reluctant use of CGI unless absolutely necessary. He also leaves easter eggs for his next films. People were pointing out that his next film might be about former president JFK, based on its fleeting mention in Oppenheimer.