Few in Hollywood can promise a cinematic experience as phenomenal as Christopher Nolan’s films do. With his state-of-the-art filmmaking and breathtaking storylines, the British director has reigned over the film industry for over two decades now, spawning masterpiece after precious masterpiece throughout his glorious tenure.
From leading actors to revered filmmakers, innumerable key figures have lauded Nolan and his blockbuster ventures that never fail to hit the mark. So, it’s no surprise that one of the most acclaimed filmmakers in Canada has a treasure chest full of praise for the Inception director and the iconic movies that he’s bestowed upon the world.
Denis Villeneuve Talks About His Favorite Christopher Nolan Film
Renowned for his visually innovative and somber style, Denis Villeneuve is the proud owner of some magnificent creations like Dune (2021), Blade Runner 2049 (2017), Arrival (2016), and Maelström (2000). A French-Canadian filmmaker, Villeneuve is a four-time recipient of the Canadian Screen Award for Best Direction and has also landed three Academy Award nominations. And as it turns out, he’s also a huge fan of Christopher Nolan.
As someone who shares a love for classic science fiction, Villeneuve is simply in awe of Nolan’s legendary films which feel like they have a life of their own, especially his 2020 project starring Robert Pattinson, Tenet. Starring Pattinson along with John David Washington, Elizabeth Debicki, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, it narrates a gripping tale of a CIA operative who must bend the laws of nature and manipulate time to stop save the world from a dangerous threat.
“I was blown away by Tenet, I think it’s a masterpiece. I think it’s a movie that’s an incredible cinematic achievement. I think that it’s a very complex movie. I had so much fun, I saw it several times, and each time it was a blast, and I think the level of mastery of Christopher Nolan is unmatched.”
And of course, he’s watched the movie on the big screen.
Denis Villeneuve on Why He Watched Tenet in Theatres
“He is by far one of the best filmmakers working in the world today,” Villeneuve, 55, said. “Because people don’t realize the eye level of his cinematic mastery; it’s crazy.”
“Of course, I saw Tenet in the theatres,” he admitted, claiming how he always makes it a point to screen Nolan’s creations at the cinema instead of curling up on the couch and watching his films at home. As the Sicario director remarked, the latter simply wouldn’t make any sense. “You have to, at first, receive the full impact of a Nolan movie in a theatre.”
Villeneuve further went on to hail The Dark Knight filmmaker and how he has grown over the years, something that serves as an incredible inspiration to him as well. “It’s really fascinating to see him evolving from one movie to another and always pushing the envelope, technically, narratively, and always reinventing himself,” he gushed. “For me, it’s deeply inspiring to see that master at work.”
