Anthony Reviews: The Nolan Variations: The Movies, Mysteries, and Marvels of Christopher Nolan By Tom Shone

When I found out that Tom Shone had written a book about one of my favourite directors and with full cooperation of the man himself, I was eager to read it. His concepts and how he goes about constructing his films have always fascinated me.

What strikes me about Christopher Nolan is that he is man who like most great storytellers has found the moments of his life have heavily influenced his work. He is a student of other artists and creative industries - he uses other films and screenings for his colleagues to portray how he wants a part of his film to be like. His philosophy of his projects is an evolution, an organic journey in creativity and collaboration of creatives to bring his work to audiences. As a writer myself I found this very relatable and reassuring.

A man who is dedicated to his work and due to his success now has he has the creative freedom to choose what project he wants to commit to. Also his notion of family in understanding that his job can take its toll on his family means he needs to work on something he loves. He is a family man and that really comes across through the relationships of his characters, and this book gives you an insight of what influences their creation. This book takes us on a journey over a three-year period through Tom Shone interviews with the director. It is not a just an interview after interview type book rather they are incorporated throughout the chapters to help the author give us a more rounded picture of the man and the creative - an exploration of what his thinking is when developing these concepts and ideas.

The author says ‘This is no biography, although it starts with an account of Nolan’s early life and is followed by a chronological march through his films.’ I was happy with little emphasis on his early years his transatlantic upbringing, boarding school experience and all his influences prior to picking up a camera because I was more interested in his craft as a filmmaker and storyteller. In that sense, this book doesn’t’ disappoint. Each chapter takes one of his films as a starting point and then develops into a theme that the chapter is named after. I love the fact the book reveals the impact that his successes have had on him and in using those successes to actually enable him to revert back to the way and the why he became a filmmaker in the first place.

For anyone who loves the work of Christopher Nolan this would be a good place start.

To request the book please click here.