Chris, the Savior of the Galaxy insisted that I post Inception music to go along with this blog. I hope you're pleased Chris.

Writer, director, visionary, and genius. These are the first few words that come to mind when I'm talking about Christopher Nolan. The guy started off with close to nothing, and is now directing one of the most expensive, and anticipated films of all time. I've admired him since I first saw Insomnia around a decade ago, and dove on to his band wagon after I saw Batman Begins. This is the guy who intensified my Batman obsession, and who has inspired me, and my writings. He's a genius when it comes to plot, pacing, and filmography, and right now he has more pressure on him than any other filmmaker in the history of the medium, and I do not exaggerate.

Before I delve into his current situation, I'd like to give a little background on Mr. Nolan. His first film, "Following", was a black and white low budget thriller, funded by Nolan himself. It's about a man who follows people as a hobby. Not to hurt, or steal from them, but to just study them. He's socially inept, and keeps to himself. Well one day this guy follows the wrong person, and his life spirals out of control. Then there's his second film, "Memento" which launched him into the directorial spotlight. It's about a man with short term memory loss, searching for the man responsible for his wife's death. The entire film goes in reverse, with the end of the movie functioning as the beginning (I hope that makes sense) and then progressively the film moves backwards to the stories true beginning.

Then you have "Insomnia", which is his first big project. It stars, Robin Williams, Al Pacino, and Hilary Swank, and is about a LAPD officer and his partner being sent to Alaska to investigate brutal murders that take place in the small fishing town of Nightmute. Al Pacino's character, is a one of the officers from LA, who struggles with memories from his questionable past. Things go wrong for him to say the very least. 

Next you have "Batman Begins", which we all know about. It's the film that wildly grounded Batman in a more realistic world, while also staying true to his origins, and brought about the best adaptation of Bruce Wayne's personality and psyche to date. This is where things started to get a little interesting for our director, because the following year he filmed "The Prestige", which like the films before it, is a psychological thriller about two competing magicians, and the travesty which results from their feud. 

Finally, you have his two most recent films, "The Dark Knight", and "Inception". These are his two best films in my opinion, as "The Dark Knight", blew audiences and critics alike away, as he fleshed out an incredibly deep plot fueled by electrifying performances. Then there's "Inception", which was his way of proving to everyone that he can handle a big budget, while also making something completely original and out of this world. I won't go in depth with these two films as you guys should have seen both of these films by now (shame on you if you haven't).

Now, something that is a running trend throughout every single one of his movies, is the challenge of Man Vs Self. In every movie that he's made, the main character has issues with himself and his past, as well as his own sanity. The biggest mountain that they must overcome is the man in the mirror. Nolan brings about a feeling of self loathing within each character, as well as giving the very same characters some sort of deranged obsession. In following, it was the need to watch people and their actions, in Memento, it was finding the murderer of the protagonists wife. The same case can be made with all of his films, as Nolan believes that we are our own greatest challenge. I'm a believer in the same thing, as at the end of our lives, the only person we truly have to answer to is ourselves. We have to atone for our own actions, and if we aren't happy with the lives we've lived then we lose.

Now while all of these movies are fantastic in their own ways, the biggest film he has ever made, has yet to be released. In fact we're just a month away. "The Dark Knight Rises" is without a shadow of a doubt the biggest film he has ever been apart of, with an estimated budget of 250 Million dollars, and the worlds only IMAX camera's at his disposal. 

Despite the colossal budget, there stands something much greater. The pressure. While Christopher Nolan has wowed us for over a decade now, Rises is his final test. If the film succeeds Nolan will be escalated into the heavens, and will go down as one of the greatest directors of all time, if not the greatest. But if he fails, then his career will hit a brick wall. Why you ask? Because, if this film isn't financially and critically superior to "The Dark Knight" then his success will be credited to Heath Ledger's performance and death. 

Think about it. Before "The Dark Knight" released Ledger passed away, and the film's exposure skyrocketed, even though it was a greatly anticipated film to start with. But what was one of the selling points for his last film "Inception"? In many of the trailers for the film you will notice the phrase: "From the Director of The Dark Knight". If Rises fails, then Inceptions success will be considered a result of riding The Dark Knight's coattails.

But you know what? He will succeed. I've seen every single one of his movies, I've watched every special feature available, I've listened to his co-workers praise. The man is a genius. He is known for his cryptic, open-ended, and emotional endings. His talent is making his audience think and feel at the same time, and always ends his movies in that manner. And what is The Dark Knight Rises? A two hour and forty five minute ending to a mind blowing trilogy. This film will succeed, as he wouldn't have even touched it without having an ending that will suit the series, as well as himself.

At the end of the day when all is said and done, I believe that The Dark Knight Rises will be one of the greatest films ever made. I don't say that because I'm a die-hard Batman fan (okay that might be a small reason) but because I have faith in Christopher Nolan, and his otherworldly directorial skills. The man's method is simple. He asks a question, he then makes his argument in relation to the question, and then he let's us decide the answer for ourselves. Because at the end of the day, he wants us to question ourselves just as his troubled protagonists do. Isn't that what telling a story is all about?