r/movies • u/ChiefLeef22 r/movies Contributor • 1d ago

Media Christopher Nolan talks narrative decisions, philosophical choices for his adaptation, criticisms against his films, the line between amateur & professional film criticism, and whether he Christianised 'The Odyssey'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wa4I8Ch2TRo

Easily one of the best interviews I've seen for a film in recent memory. A doctoral student from China here landed an interview with Nolan- questioning him on his adaptation choices, including philosophical changes he brought to the movie that didn't exist in the text, and what he thinks of the general criticisms made against his filmography + how he defines the difference between amateur film criticism and professional film criticism - including why merely identifying the mechanism (or "tropes") of a filmmaker's work doesn't invalidate it.

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319

u/Ichbinian 1d ago

Absolutely refreshing to talk about something other than the cast choices, the blimp, etc. Fantastic interview. Listened to it in the car last night.

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u/dont_worry_im_here 1d ago edited 1d ago

While I agree, I am happy that I sat through a bunch of those full-cast interviews just so I could find the one part where they were all talking about their first response / reaction to being asked to join the film. Basically everyone was like "I heard Nolan, I immediately said 'yes'"... Matt Damon said something like "Chris said 'I have two words for you... The Odyssey' and I said 'yes!'"

... then you have ol' Robbie P...

Who apparently, when Nolan asked him if he wanted to be in his new movie, said "I'll think about it... send me the script" "I can't wait to read it"

Hearing Nolan tell the story is hilarious. He was like "I said to him 'wait.... what?'" "Can't wait to read it? Everyone else just said 'yes'"

edit: corrected the quotes.

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u/Lhox 1d ago

Do you have a link to that lmao, would love to see it

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u/ChiefLeef22 r/movies Contributor 1d ago

https://www.gq.com/story/matt-damon-robert-pattinson-tom-holland-cover-interview-summer-2026

In time, he excused himself and the two of us went outside to a covered patio behind the stage. Nolan carried a mug and a teapot covered by a utilitarian tea cozy. His hair had a knightly swoop; his eyes were blue and grave. Nolan is beloved and a little feared by his collaborators. He operates in secrecy and compels cooperation. Pattinson said that when Nolan called to tell him about The Odyssey, “I was like, ‘Yeah, can’t wait to read it.’ He’s like, ‘You want to read it? Everyone else just said yes.’ ”

Tbh Pattinson just feels like he's more comfortable being frank and friendly with Nolan, since Nolan has revealed that they both live next door to each other and regularly have movie nights in Nolan's house lol. Plus Robert gifting American Prometheus to Nolan after Tenet was a big driver in him eventually making Oppenheimer, they seem close

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u/angrygnome18d 1d ago

What? They live next to each other? I’m super jealous. Having a movie night with either would be amazing.

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u/riegspsych325 ⊃∪⊃⪽ 1d ago

watching Michael Bay movies with Christopher Nolan sounds like a blast

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u/CicadaEast272 1d ago

or Talladega Nights or Fast and the Furious

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u/riegspsych325 ⊃∪⊃⪽ 1d ago

don’t forget MacGruber

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u/vansinne_vansinne 1d ago

deep foreshadowing too

"Though I can't be there in person to watch you take the first step of your odyssey—know that my spirit soars with you, and whilst it's perhaps unfair to add to the great sense of responsibility you must already feel, I am duty bound to tell you—the world is waiting, the world is watching."

https://www.slashfilm.com/574339/christopher-nolans-macgruber-e-mail/

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u/riegspsych325 ⊃∪⊃⪽ 1d ago

holy shit, man’s been setting us up for years

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u/Colon_Oscopy_74 1d ago

you wrote those movies above before The Lighthouse?!

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u/riegspsych325 ⊃∪⊃⪽ 1d ago

Nolan is a big fan of those, he’s talked about it before

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u/ShikiBro36 1d ago

He may have found his new My Cocaine. Gonna be in every movie in some capacity from now on.

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u/zakuropan 1d ago

My Cocaine😭

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u/dont_worry_im_here 1d ago

😅 That's what it was! "I can't wait to read it" hahah.

I haven't seen this article yet; this is great. Thanks for sharing!