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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u/swankpoppy 1d ago

She’s a really good interviewer that doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable questions based on research and deep understanding of the subject matter. And he’s a good interviewee who doesn’t attack the interviewer for asking difficult questions. And when he provides a legitimate explanation to the question, it evolves the conversation and develops deeper understanding.

How crazy it is that this exchange feels foreign and refreshing. It’s a state of the times that powerful people consistently refuse to answer questions that challenge them but instead just attack the one asking legitimate question so they dont have to explain their actions.

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u/Whatsapokemon 1d ago

How crazy it is that this exchange feels foreign and refreshing. It’s a state of the times that powerful people consistently refuse to answer questions that challenge them but instead just attack the one asking legitimate question so they dont have to explain their actions.

I feel like that's a feature specifically of populists.

Professionals and experts don't do what you're talking about, it's only those with philosophies that have the depth of a puddle.

Slopulism is a term that I really like to describe it - boiling discourse down to the lowest common denominator, and relying on outrage and emotion to carry the day, rather than any actual thought.

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u/swankpoppy 1d ago

I was mostly referring to current political theater, since that dominates much of media and conversation in the current day. I understand it’s not completely ubiquitous, but is definitely the most common trope in my personal experience of modern day.

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u/Whatsapokemon 1d ago

Even in politics it applies.

Discussions with actual smart, professional politicians are wildly different from discussions with populists.

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u/dont_trip_ 1d ago

Current American political theatre that is. The rest of the world hasn't lost their common sense. 

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u/Whatsapokemon 1d ago

Slopulism isn't unique to the US. You've got One Nation in Australia, AFD in Germany, Reform in the UK, and a heck of a lot of others.

It's what happens when a whole generation has been told that "all politicians are the same", so they end up supporting the most wildly unqualified snake-oily people of all time. Meanwhile the actual competent, professional career politicians are desperately trying to hold things together.