And the genius of Christopher Nolan…

In a phone interview last Friday, cinematographer Wally Pfister talked up the highly-anticipated Bat-threequel, The Dark Knight Rises, further stoking the anticipation created by writer-director Christopher Nolan’s excellent first two films in the rebooted franchise.

On being asked how Christopher Nolan could top The Dark Knight, he replied:

“I asked the same question.  I read the script two weeks ago, and he’s done it.  Plain and simple... it’s really phenomenal."

He then said that Christopher Nolan made him rewatch the first two films in the IMAX format:

"When I watched those I had read the script for The Dark Knight Rises and was like ‘dude, it is a perfect trilogy.’  I think that was his intent, to work off those two pictures – and they are very different pictures.  And it’s funny, we all had different opinions about which picture we like better.”

(There’s no mention of whether “Dude, it’s a perfect trilogy” was the extent of his reaction, or whether he followed it with “But if the top doesn’t stop spinning, then Alfred and Ra’s al-Ghul and Jonathan Crane/the Scarecrow and Bane are still in Leonardo DiCaprio’s dream!”)

Joking aside, the last sentence is intriguing.  Who prefers which film, and why?  Personally, I’m undecided.  In my opinion, Batman Begins is underrated compared to The Dark Knight, but The Dark Knight was an incredible experience in IMAX.

Asked about Anne Hathaway’s screen test, he said:

“She’s so good.  She did an incredible job.  She is a great, great actress… and she looked phenomenal in the wardrobe.”

The article doesn’t specify whether this is as Selina Kyle or as her comic book alter-ego, Catwoman, but according to Nolan Fans, Wally Pfister refused to say more for fear of getting into trouble…  Obviously this movie is adhering to the Nolan formula of ‘Reveal nothing, but drop mysterious hints and let people speculate themselves into a fanboy frenzy’ that has worked so well so far.

He also said:

"Our goal is to shoot as much in IMAX as we can...  And I really encourage everyone to see it in IMAX if they can because we're really going for it this time...  The opening scene of the movie will blow your mind."

All this enthusiasm makes him sound like a giddy fanboy.  There are three possible explanations for this reaction.  Either 1) he’s convinced that Christopher Nolan’s uncanny ability to see how things fit together makes him Sylar from Heroes, and he’s afraid he’ll steal his brains, or 2) Christopher Nolan did an Inception on him, or 3) The Dark Knight Rises will actually be as good as we all (fairly reasonably) are hoping it’ll be.

In any case, the hype building around this film looks set to propel it to smash box office records, surpassing even The Dark Knight, and make Christopher Nolan enough money to equip an army of Batmen, Best Director Oscar nomination or no.

The Dark Knight Rises is released July 20, 2012.

Rope of Silicon

Related:

Cinematographer Wally Pfister talks Inception and more

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