Critic Reviews
Good
Based on 5 reviews on
In chapters structured by themes and motifs ("Time"; "Chaos"; "Dreams"), Shone offers an unprecedented intimate view of the director. Shone explores Nolan's thoughts on his influences, his vision, his enigmatic childhood past--and his movies, from plots and emotion to identity and perception, including his latest blockbuster, the action-thriller/spy-fi Tenet ("Big, brashly beautiful, grandiosely enjoyable"--Variety).
Filled with the director's never-before-seen photographs, storyboards, and scene sketches, here is Nolan on the evolution of his pictures, and the writers, artists, directors, and thinkers who have inspired and informed his films.
"Fabulous: intelligent, illuminating, rigorous, and highly readable. The very model of what a filmmaking study should be. Essential reading for anyone who cares about Nolan or about film for that matter."--Neal Gabler, author of An Empire of Their Own: How the Jews Invented Hollywood and Walt Disney, The Biography
I write novels and short stories — THE SCREAMING CHILD, JACK WATERS, GRAVEYARD LOVE, JUNGLE HORSES, SPIDERS AND FLIES, etc.
Time moving backward, magicians, wormholes, dreams -- I'll be talking all this and more for Reel Talks in @bryantparknyc tomorrow with @Tom_Shone, author of THE NOLAN VARIATIONS: THE MOVIES, MYSTERIES AND MARVELS OF CHRISTOPHER NOLAN. 12:30 PM. Swing by. https://t.co/pTtBDA8EKx
Culture writer @NextBestPicture, bylines @Ebertvoices @Polygon @Vaguevisages, guest @BBC. Lover of the B movie & prone to ramble about aspect ratios at parties.
thumbing through Tom Shone's THE NOLAN VARIATIONS and Nolan (adorably) has a framed photo of him and Michael Mann in his private office from the 20th anniversary of HEAT screening. dude's rock etc https://t.co/jLJYg2WVCJ
Manhattan's town square
Well, well, well, if it isn’t another amazing film critic for our weekly Reel Talks! @Tom_Shone how are you dear friend 💚? We’re excited for your discussion today at 12:30pm on The Nolan Variations 💯! Click the link for more Reading Room events! https://t.co/19pYDYF6ok https://t.co/DasuZrFwz0
"This is the book for which Christopher Nolan's many admirers have long been waiting ... Shone sat with Nolan for numerous conversations over three years, producing what is almost a coauthored exploration of Nolan's creative process, his extensive influences, and his films ... Shone seamlessly weaves these conversations within a narrative that stretches from Nolan's formative boarding school days in England to the evolution of his career and work ... a thoroughly entertaining and fascinating portrait. For the foreseeable future, this is the definitive word on Nolan and a must for film buffs."--Library Journal (starred review)
"Nolan is a wonderfully unlikely contemporary filmmaker. We're fortunate indeed to have him, and fortunate now to have this book."--William Gibson
"Drawing on interviews conducted over three years, film critic Shone shines a light on Christopher Nolan, who has 'long perfected the art of talking about his films while giving away nothing about himself.' Shone devotes a chapter to each of Nolan's films [and] provides thoughtful context for Nolan's commentary."--Publishers Weekly
"An up-close and personal look at one of Hollywood's most successful directors ... unique access to the 'most successful filmmaker to come out of the British Isles since Alfred Hitchcock.' This erudite book is packed with extensive, expansive discussions about Nolan's films, all written or co-written by the director; insight into what he was trying to accomplish with each film; methodologies; and the movies, directors, books, art, architecture, and music that influenced him ... revealing ... invaluable."--Kirkus (starred review)