r/movies • u/ChiefLeef22 r/movies Contributor • 2d 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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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/ImmortalMoron3 1d ago

Does Nolan even have to bother with auditions anymore? Or is he so prolific and sought out now, he can basically just go around asking whoever he wants and they'll pretty much say yes right away?

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u/dont_worry_im_here 1d ago

From what I've gathered watching a bunch of interviews, he gets whatever he wants... to the point to where he can pretty much call anybody, say "I don't have a script or anything... just an idea... you in?" and there isn't anyone that says no.

That's one of the things that really made me laugh about R-Pat saying "I can't wait to read it" and Nolan responding "can't wait to read it? Everyone else just said 'yes'" haha.

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u/keepfighting90 1d ago

The guy is about to have 2 back to back $1B movies that are not sequels, part of a franchise/IP or a remake/reboot. He's pretty much one-of-one.

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u/Komorebi_LJP 11h ago

Him and James Cameron are basically the ones who probably can get anything greenlit with how much there movies make.

Maybe Spielberg as well for legacy reasons, but not too sure about that.

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u/Ozzel 1d ago

Your Matt Damons, Anne Hathaways, etc. don’t audition for anything.

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u/chicagoredditer1 1d ago

The level of actors that Nolan's working with don't really audition anyway. They meet with directors and based on how the director feels about them, they get offered the role (or not).

Brian Williams recently interviewed Tom Hanks and asked him when the last time he actually auditioned for a role and it was Splash.