Christopher Nolan talks about 'fundamental flaw' with film criticism
Los Angeles, Aug 4
Legendary filmmaker Christopher Nolan, who recently helmed 'The Odyssey', his film adaptation of the epic poem the Odyssey by Homer, feels that amateur film criticism comes with its flaws.
The 56-year-old director recently spoke with podcaster Zhong Shu, and pushed back against familiar criticism from amateur movie-watchers.
Nolan shared, "The criticism that's often levelled at movies in general is, 'Oh, the character has to be made sympathetic, so the character is manipulated in different ways or changed in different ways'. And that's a fundamental flaw of film criticism in a way, or storytelling criticism. Because to be able to identify the mechanism does not invalidate the mechanism".
He further mentioned, "I'm thinking more of amateur criticism, because they feel they've identified the mechanism, they feel that it invalidates it. That can be true of certain elements, and film grammar, film language evolves with that. So when a trope becomes too familiar to an audience, then it has to be changed. But we do, as filmmakers, avail ourselves of that common language. We build on that understanding. Our audience has seen many films and they understand that language".
The filmmaker recently directed 'The Odyssey'. The film is based on the ancient Greek epic poem attributed to Homer. It follows the legendary journey of Odysseus as he struggles to return home to Ithaca after the Trojan War, facing mythical creatures, divine interventions and perilous challenges along the way.
Nolan blends large-scale spectacle, emotional depth and practical filmmaking techniques to the timeless tale in the film.
The film stars Matt Damon as Odysseus, alongside Tom Holland, Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, Charlize Theron, Robert Pattinson and Lupita Nyong'o.
The film has been shot using cutting-edge IMAX technology across multiple international locations.
— IANS
Reader Comments
I think there's a valid point here, but let's not completely dismiss criticism. In Indian cinema, we've seen how tropes can become stale — the "hero entry" scene, the "item number," the "climax fight." When audiences identify these mechanisms, it does diminish the impact. Nolan is right that identifying a mechanism doesn't invalidate it, but overuse absolutely does. The evolution of film language is real, especially with OTT platforms exposing us to global cinema.
As someone who grew up watching Rajinikanth films, I can tell you that "identifying the mechanism" doesn't stop the magic! We all know the hero will enter with slow motion and background music, but we still cheer! Nolan's point about film language is spot on. The Odyssey with IMAX is going to be a visual feast. Matt Damon as Odysseus? Interesting casting choice, but Nolan hasn't disappointed us yet.
Nolan is a genius but this feels like he's deflecting criticism of his own films. I've seen people point out that his female characters are often underwritten, and instead of addressing that, he talks about "amateur criticism." These are valid critiques from professionals too. That said, I'm excited for The Odyssey — the cast is phenomenal and IMAX shooting is his specialty.
This reminds me of discussions about our mythological retellings on Indian OTT shows. People constantly complain about "modernizing" characters like Sita or Draupadi to make them "relatable," but isn't that the point? Every era retells stories through its own lens. Nolan's Odyssey is no different. Also, practical filmmaking > CGI — so glad he sticks to that! 🙌
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