As the final instalment of the franchise he revived - 'The Dark Knight Rises' - is soon to be released, the BFI celebrate the work of visionary director Christopher Nolan.

This July, with the release of the year's most anticipated film - The Dark Knight Rises - the BFI are screening all of the British director's films from his indie beginnings with debut Following and cult classic Memento, crime thriller Insomnia  to full blown Hollywood blockbuster with a brain, Inception.

Responsible for rebooting the superhero franchise - previously dragged down by Joel Schumacher and his dalliance with Robin and Batgirl -Nolan's preoccupation with the complexities of the human mind and social anxieties ensured a darker take on the caped crusader with Batman Begins and phenomenal The Dark Knight. Proving that a big-budget blockbuster can be more than just explosions and girls, he has never compromised his unique storytelling and vision, and at just 41 is one of our greatest modern directors. 

Having left The Dark Knight behind, for Zack Snyder's The Man of Steel (as co-writer and producer), Nolan is also working as executive producer on cinematographer Wally Pfister's directorial debut, writing the screenplay for Gemma Arterton thriller The Keys to the Street, before returning to Batman as writer and producer with Darren Aronofksy directing. While he recently decided to abandon a Howard Hughes biopic - which he originally worked on prior to Scorsese's The Aviator - he has made no secret of his desire to tackle Bond in the future... and we couldn't think of anyone better. 

 

FOLLOWING (1998)

Nolan's first outing as director - a young writer who follows strangers for material meets a thief who takes him under his wing. With Jeremy Theobald, Alex Haw, John Nolan.

 

 

Sun 1 July 16:20

Wed 4 July 20:40

 

MEMENTO (2000)

A man, suffering from short-term memory loss, uses notes and tattoos to hunt for the man he thinks killed his wife. With Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss.

Sun 1 July 18:20

Fri 6 July 20:45

 

INSOMNIA (2002)

Two Los Angeles homicide detectives are dispatched to a northern town where the sun doesn't set to investigate the methodical murder of a local teen. With Al Pacino, Robin Williams, Hilary Swank.

Sun 1 July 20:40 

Fri 13 July 17:50

Sun 22 July 20:40 

 

BATMAN BEGINS (2005)

The first of the brilliant rebooted franchise. Wth Christian Bale, Cillian Murphy, Katie Holmes, Gary Oldman and Michael Caine.

Sat 7 July 17:15 

Sat 14 July 17:15 

 

THE PRESTIGE (2006)

The rivalry between two magicians is exacerbated when one of them performs the ultimate illusion. With Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Scarlett Johansson, Rebecca Hall.

Sun 8 July 18:15 

Mon 16 July 20:30 

 

THE DARK KNIGHT (2008)

Considered the greatest superhero film of all time, the second of the franchise, it has a stunning, memorable performance from the late Heath Ledger. With Christian Bale, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gary Oldman and Michael Caine.

Sat 14 July 20:00 

Tue 17 July 20:10 

 

INCEPTION (2010)

Dream-bending heist sci-fi, game changer. With Leonardo Dicaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tom Hardy, Ellen Page, Marion Cotillard.

Fri 20 July 20:10 

Sun 22 July 17:45 

 

THE SEASON BEGINS ON 1ST JULY

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES is released at the BFI IMAX and UK cinemas from 20 July 2012

 


For more information or for tickets click here

 

Emma Hurwitz