F
rom The Dark Knight to Interstellar, Christopher Nolan movies take full advantage of the medium, creating realities that often operate by their own rules.
Of course, story is at the foundation of these creations, but what helps to maintain the viewer’s attention are the shot list choices.
Here are some of the ways his shooting style enhanced Christopher Nolan’s filmography.
Looking through the filmography of Christopher Nolan, one gets the sense they’re in the hands of a true world-builder.
As the Inception director once remarked, “Every film should have its own world, a logic and feel to it that expands beyond the exact image the audience is seeing.”
Watch: How to Design Shots Like Christopher Nolan
Mastering the Shot List: Christopher Nolan
Off-kilter close-up shots
Christopher Nolan movies are interested in perspective; not only how it functions amongst the characters, but the audience as well.
Effective shot design mimics the emotions of the scene. What Nolan uniquely does is allow the frame to simultaneously reflect the frustrations of his characters while making the audience feel as if they are right there in the room.
Take the Dark Knight for example.
The Batman director knows how to make you uncomfortable
The skewed, unbalanced nature of the shot reveals the Joker’s sadistic personality, but the closeness of it provides the cringe-worthy discomfort the audience must endure.
Here's a profile of Nolan's former DP, Wally Pfister, who explains their approach and the visual language they were constantly seeking.
Wally Pfister Cinematography • Subscribe on YouTube
With Christopher Nolan movies every aspect of the narrative world feels alive, even the frame itself.
MASTERING THE SHOT LIST: CHRISTOPHER NOLAN
Disorienting medium shots
Let’s be honest. Christopher Nolan’s filmography is not a place you’d want to find yourself stranded in.
Characters are frequently trying to climb and crawl their way out of danger. An effective way the Batman director enhances this sense of helplessness is by maintaining camera movement.
In Interstellar, Cooper is hurtling through space so it makes sense for him to float. Here's a complete Interstellar script breakdown that charts both the emotional journey of the characters as well as some fascinating scientific theory on blackholes.
Interstellar Ending Explained • Subscribe on YouTube
But Nolan knows to increase the sense of panic he needs to twist and turn with the character. He allows the audience to feel as if they are tethered to the space suit themselves.
Often in Christopher Nolan movies the will of the characters, and literally the worlds themselves, are spinning out of control. The Inception director wants to make sure the viewer feels every seat-grabbing moment.
MASTERING THE SHOT LIST: CHRISTOPHER NOLAN
Surreal wide shots
It’s not only the intimacy of moments that Christopher Nolan movies want to explore but the enormity of the worlds containing them.
The Inception director makes his worlds feel alive
Immersion, on every level, is a priority in Christopher Nolan films. In many ways, his maze-like environments reflect the uncertainty of his characters.
Inception is the maze of the mind, Interstellar the maze of time and The Dark Knight the maze of morality.
Like the characters themselves, these landscapes and structures are alive. They have the ability to expand and grow stronger, or crumble from the forces attacking them.
MASTERING THE SHOT LIST: CHRISTOPHER NOLAN
A whole new world
For Nolan, shot choice is not merely a mechanism to capture an image, but a representation of the emotions playing out on screen.
Whether it’s on a planet’s icy surface or deep within an individual’s dreams, Christopher Nolan films make sure the perspective of the audience is firmly connected to the drama of the story.
As the Inception director says, “Breaking rules isn’t interesting. It’s making up new ones that keep things exciting.”
To discover more shot lists from your favorite filmmakers, check out our video series.
Showcase your vision with elegant shot lists and storyboards.
Create robust and customizable shot lists. Upload images to make storyboards and slideshows.
