Amnesia, superheroes, dream thieves, nukes — over the last quarter century, Christopher Nolan has tackled a plethora of subjects across a variety of genres to massive critical acclaim and box office success. Now, as the director’s hotly anticipated (and already controversial) adaptation of Homer’s The Odyssey arrives in theaters, I’m counting down every previous Nolan cinematic effort.
12. Oppenheimer (2023)
While this may seem like a cantankerous or rage-bait pick to kick off the list, I assure the reader I have maintained that Oppenheimer is a pretentious slog of film and a rare misstep for Nolan ever since I walked out of the theater in 2023. Instead of elevating his material, Nolan’s patented non-linear storytelling serves only to convolute it. And while the acting is mostly superb, the characters are wholly unlikable, demanding that viewers sympathize with an unrepentant philanderer whose Communist ties made him a legitimate security risk to his country. Ultimately, the film fails to justify why audiences should watch this version of the story instead of picking up the proper print biography upon which it’s based.
Quality Rating: 5/10 (originally 6/10)
Enjoyment Rating: 2/10
11. Interstellar (2014)
Although Interstellar has gained more fans in the decade-plus since its release, I stand by the general “meh” that originally greeted it….
Cole Powell is an arts and media commentator and award-winning singer/songwriter from Jayess, Mississippi, USA, with degrees in computer technology, liberal arts, and theology. Host Random Reactions, Words Like That, and Film Nerd by Night. https://colepowell.net