When it comes to exploring a vast array of genres and gaining unprecedented mastery in all of them, there is no one who can quite surpass Christopher Nolan. From sci-fi thrillers, psychological dramas, superhero narratives, to sweeping biopics, Nolan’s grip over the various crafts of cinema makes him one of Hollywood’s most prolific directors.
While most films of The Dark Knight filmmaker have gone on to become huge blockbusters, Nolan believed that there were a few projects that did not get the recognition they deserved. The Oscar nominee named a 2002 thriller starring veterans Robin Williams and Al Pacino as a movie that he was proud of and deserved more love.
Christopher Nolan’s Film Insomnia Was Very Close To His Heart
While a Christopher Nolan film failing at the box office may sound like an anomaly, a few of his movies like Tenet did not connect with all audiences for its complex script that not everyone could comprehend. But it was 2002’s Insomnia starring Robin Williams and Al Pacino that Nolan revealed, was his most underrated film.
The tense psychological thriller was special to the Memento filmmaker in many ways as it was the first time he was working with massive stars like Pacino and Williams. Nolan also revealed that a lot of his personal experiences went into creating the script which was also his first studio film.
In the book The Nolan Variations: The Movies, Mysteries, and Marvels of Christopher Nolan by Tom Shone, the Batman Begins director confessed that the film which was extremely close to his heart, failed to connect in the same manner with fans. But it was a project that continued to generate interest among people.
“I’m very proud of the film. I think, of all my films, it’s probably the most underrated.That’s not really for me to say, but every now and again I meet a filmmaker and that’s actually the film that they’re interested in or want to talk about.”
The word ‘underrated’ is a very relative term in the context of Nolan’s films. While the movie may not have touched a chord when compared to some of his biggest blockbusters, the fact remains that the prolific director’s vast range is unmatched.
Christopher Nolan Unique Cinematic Process In Oppenheimer
Oppenheimer’s stupendous success all around the world can be credited to the genius of Christopher Nolan along with the efforts of his lead actor Cillian Murphy who portrayed the complexities of the titular protagonist to perfection. The adapted screenplay demanded massive detailing to bring a historically heavy real-life subject onto the big screen.
Though the material that the director had to work with required a lot of research and edits, Cillian Murphy revealed that Nolan’s genius enabled him to film freely without sacrificing majority of the scenes at the editing table. In an interview with Collider, Murphy explained his awe for Nolan’s cinematic process and said,
“There’s no deleted scenes in Chris Nolan movies. That’s why there are no DVD extras on his movies because the script is the movie. He knows exactly what’s going to end up– he’s not fiddling around with it trying to change the story. That is the movie.”
Murphy’s praise for his director further solidifies Nolan’s expertise as a filmmaker in being able to bring complex narratives to life through a lethal combination of talent, skill, vision, and hard work.
Insomnia can be rented on Amazon Prime.
