What Can We Learn from a Christopher Nolan Fanboy?
There's a lot to learn from the fans...
One of the greatest joys in life is joining a fandom. You get to celebrate a thing that makes you happy with the other people who share your love for that thing. When it comes to movie fandom, Christopher Nolan fans are a breed unto their own. While his followers don't have the insanity of Star Wars or the desire to prove they know more history than you, like Tranatino's, there are lots of things to unpack.
This is not a post about toxic fandom, it's one that digs deep into what people love and why.
So let's hear from a certified Nolan fanboy and see what we can glean.
What Can We Learn from a Christopher Nolan Fanboy?
Gee, this Nolan guy sounds like he makes great movies. Turns out, I bet you've seen most of them. Christopher Nolan has been making the biggest films since the early 2000s. He was thrust into the public spotlight with Memento, and even more so with the Batman franchise, but I really became a huge fan when I saw Inception.
There are not enough filmmakers using original ideas for big-budget movies today. Sure, Nolan adapted Batman, but he used his clout to play in his own world. I'll always respect that. So, what can we learn from the people who adore him?
I think Hollywood needs to pay attention to that desire for new stories, not based on books or existing properties. Nolan has proved that these situations can pay off big time.
Another big idea is emotion. Nolan was knocked early on for being a technical master, but he was always dinged for shying away from emotion. So what did Nolan do? He embraced those ideas with Interstellar.
Nolan made a movie about his strength in science, and about people confronting emotions.
This was a bold move on his part and one that paid off. It helped him take a critique and get better. This emotion helped him then craft Dunkirk, a love letter to England and perseverance.
Lastly, Nolan works in the future by respecting the past. His use of 70mm and even IMAX makes his movies must-sees in theaters. In an era where we are focusing on seeing things as easily as possible, Nolan is preserving the magic.
While this may seem shortsighted, it's something he believes in. This is one of Nolan's biggest traits. He always writes and directs in what he believes in. This steadfast loyalty to himself and his vision is something we all should respect.
I often joke about "selling out" but the best way to make it in Hollywood is to always do the stories you think matter and do them the way you think is right,
So in the end, I guess there's a lot to learn from Nolan's fans...but more from Nolan himself. What are some lessons you've taken from his career?
Let us know in the comments.
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Source: The Royal Ocean Film Society
