The Nolan Variations - by Tom Shone (Hardcover)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

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

Review Quotes

"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)

About the Author