- Christopher Nolan has picked up an important award
- He gave a funny acceptance speech with an amusing anecdote
- THIS is how one person reviewed his film
Hollywood's A-list director Christopher Nolan was in for a shocker, not from the box office, but from a Peloton instructor! While pumping iron and sweating it out, Nolan got more than he bargained for – a live review of his time-bending blockbuster, Tenet! Can you imagine getting an earful about your own work?
Nolan had a good time with it
Nolan, the mastermind behind cinematic gems like 'Inception' and 'The Dark Knight,' grabbed the best director accolade from the New York Film Critics Circle. And for many, he is the best filmmaker of his generation, earning his place among the cinema greats that have long graced the silver screen with their visions.
But it was his gym tale that had everyone's ears perked up. Imagine, you're there, busting a gut, and suddenly your own movie gets blasted – "That's a couple hours of my life I'll never get back again," the instructor exclaimed. Ouch! Talk about a burn!
Here's how Chris broke it down:
"Directors have a complex emotional relationship with critics and criticism,” he told the audience during the Jan. 4 ceremony at New York City’s Tao Downtown. “A question we’re always asked is: Do we read reviews? Let’s start with the fact that I’m British. A typical family gathering will involve relatives saying to me, ‘You know, Christopher. You probably shouldn’t open The Guardian today.'"
“I was on my Peloton. I’m dying. And the instructor started talking about one of my films and said, ‘Did anyone see this? That’s a couple hours of my life I’ll never get back again!'” Nolan said.
The Oscar nominee did not disclose which film it was, but clearly the Peloton instructor had no idea Nolan was in his virtual class that day
A lighthearted moment
The Oscar-nominated director, known for his complex narratives, took it on the chin. "When [film critic] Rex Reed takes a s**t on your film he doesn’t ask you to work out! In today’s world, where opinions are everywhere, there is a sort of idea that film criticism is being democratized, but I for one think the critical appreciation of films shouldn’t be an instinct but it should be a profession."
Nolan's got a point – film criticism is one thing, but getting critiqued between burpees? That's next-level!
"What we have here tonight is a group of professionals who attempt objectivity," Nolan continued, addressing the professional film critics in the room. "Obviously writing about cinema objectively is a paradox, but the aspirations of objectivity is what makes criticism vital and timeless and useful to filmmakers and the filmmaking community"
Despite the sweaty surprise, Nolan tipped his hat to the critics, emphasizing the importance of professional film criticism in an era where everyone's a critic. He championed the idea that film criticism is not just an instinct but a profession that requires objectivity – a tough gig when you're dealing with art.
"You can’t say, ‘This is what I intended.’ We live in a world where the person receiving the story has the right to say what it means to them. I for one love that. It means the work should speak for itself. It’s not about what I say it is."
Also interesting:
He's taking notes
"It’s about what you receive it to be. In that world, the role of the professional critic, or the interpreter and the person who tries to give context for the reader…it’s incredibly important. I’ve never been so grateful for careful, considered and thoughtful writing about one of my films as I was for ‘Oppenheimer,'" Nolan finished.
The internet did its thing, and soon after Nolan's speech made waves, the Peloton clip with instructor Jenn Sherman resurfaced. Her candid take on Tenet? "You need to be a neuroscientist to understand," she quipped.
So, next time you're in a workout class, remember – you never know who's listening. And for Nolan, maybe stick to the soundtracks without the movie mentions!
