Moviefone Editorial

Tag: memento

  • ‘Die Alone’ Exclusive Interview: Carrie-Anne Moss

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    Opening in theaters, on digital and On Demand beginning October 18th is the new horror thriller ‘Die Alone’, which was written and directed by Lowell Dean (‘WolfCop’), and stars Carrie-Anne Moss (‘The Matrix’, ‘Memento’), Douglass Smith (‘Miss Sloane’), and Frank Grillo (‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’).

    Related Article: Frank Grillo Talks ‘Lights Out’ and DC Studio’s ‘Creature Commandos’

    (L to R) Carrie-Anne Moss and Douglas Smith in 'Die Alone'. Photo: Filmoption.
    (L to R) Carrie-Anne Moss and Douglas Smith in ‘Die Alone’. Photo: Filmoption.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Carrie-Anne Moss about her work on ‘Die Alone’, her first reaction to the screenplay, similarities to ‘Memento’, her approach to her character, working with Douglass Smith, and collaborating with director Lowell Dean on set.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch the interview.

    Carrie-Anne Moss as Mae in the Thriller, Horror 'Die Alone', a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
    Carrie-Anne Moss as Mae in the Thriller, Horror ‘Die Alone’, a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.

    Moviefone: To begin with, what was your first reaction to this screenplay and what intrigued you about this world that Lowell Dean had created?

    Carrie-Anne Moss: I loved the script right away. I particularly loved the part of Mae, the character, and I really wanted to play her. I’m not a real zombie apocalypse, gory film watcher, but the story was what really brought me to wanting to be a part of it, the love story, and the journey of Mae. I just thought it was something I really wanted to be a part of, and then when I talked to Lowell, and he had such a clear vision. Any concerns that I slightly had, he was just like, “Yeah,” because the ending of the movie, I wasn’t sure. The ending on the page, it was really disturbing. I don’t mind disturbing things, I am not saying that, but there was intimacy and that quality. There was something in that that I just wasn’t sure as just reading it. He just assured me. He said, “You’re going to love the ending,” and he was right. I love the ending. That really surprised me, because again, I felt the love, I guess. He wanted to tell this love story, and I saw it as that as well.

    MF: There is an amnesia element to ‘Die Alone’ that reminded me of ‘Memento’. Did you realize that as well when you were making this movie?

    CAM: Well, I have to say that was one of the hesitations that I had with it, was that there was a couple of moments, let’s say two moments between me and him where I was like, “Oh, is this too similar?” But then when I finished it and I really looked at the larger scope of the project, it’s nothing like ‘Memento’. Even the amnesia part, it’s so different, so that was how I was able to quell that. But it deterred me in the beginning, because I don’t want to do something again. You know what I mean? That’s not something I’m looking to do. But overall, I didn’t really feel they were that similar, in the end. There’s a couple of lines where I go, “Oh.” A little bit of a nod, I guess.

    (L to R) Douglas Smith as Ethan and Carrie-Anne Moss as Mae in the Thriller, Horror 'Die Alone', a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
    (L to R) Douglas Smith as Ethan and Carrie-Anne Moss as Mae in the Thriller, Horror ‘Die Alone’, a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.

    MF: Without giving anything away about the plot, as an actress, how do you approach a character as complex as Mae?

    CAM: Well, you rely on the writing, for sure. He wrote the character and the script very solidly, then you must play the truth and make sure you hit your moments. I mean, you must obviously do that no matter what, but it was really on the page. I just had to embody her.

    MF: Can you talk about the friendship Mae forms with Ethan and what it was like working with Douglass Smith?

    CAM: Oh, great. I mean, I’ve worked with him before, so we have a relationship. We know each other. We weren’t close, but we worked a lot more together than we had in the past. He’s very easy to be with. He’s such a good actor, and he’s such a pleasure to act with, very professional. He’s great. I think he does such a great job.

    (L to R) Carrie-Anne Moss as Mae and Director Lowell Dean in a BTS still from the Thriller, Horror 'Die Alone', a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
    (L to R) Carrie-Anne Moss as Mae and Director Lowell Dean in a BTS still from the Thriller, Horror ‘Die Alone’, a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.

    MF: Finally, what was it like collaborating with director Lowell Dean?

    CAM: Yeah, he really opens the space to allow you to have the freedom. He hires a lot of great people, even on the crew and stuff. Everyone’s doing their thing. He has an input in all of it, but then when he calls action, he really lets you be, so I appreciated that. I like that way of working.

    MF: Just to follow up, is that what you are looking for from a director when working on set?

    CAM: I mean, that’s not what I’m looking for, but when it does happen, it’s really my favorite way to work. It’s just not how everybody works, but when it happens, or you have a moment of that, or maybe you’ll have little bits of that, but some people just set that tone. I’d say Christopher Nolan totally sets that tone. First time I’d ever really been in that environment was with Christopher Nolan, where he just opens it up and you get to do your thing. Lowell did the same thing.

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    What is the plot of ‘Die Alone’?

    Lost in a world reclaimed by nature and overrun by mysterious creatures, a young man (Douglass Smith) with amnesia teams up with an eccentric survivalist (Carrie Anne-Moss) to find his missing girlfriend.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Die Alone’?

    • Carrie-Anne Moss as Mae
    • Douglas Smith as Ethan
    • Frank Grillo as Kai
    • Kimberly-Sue Murray as Emma
    (L to R) Douglas Smith as Ethan, Director Lowell Dean and Frank Grillo as Kai in a BTS still from the Thriller, Horror 'Die Alone', a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
    (L to R) Douglas Smith as Ethan, Director Lowell Dean and Frank Grillo as Kai in a BTS still from the Thriller, Horror ‘Die Alone’, a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.

    Other Lowell Dean Movies:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Die Alone’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Lowell Dean Movies on Amazon

     

  • Every Christopher Nolan Movie, Ranked

    Writer, director, and producer Christopher Nolan on the set of 'Oppenheimer.'
    Writer, director, and producer Christopher Nolan on the set of ‘Oppenheimer.’

    Christoper Nolan is one of the most acclaimed and popular filmmakers working today.

    The director first gained attention for his groundbreaking film ‘Memento,’ and has since helmed such beloved movies as ‘Inception,’ ‘Dunkirk,’ ‘Tenet,’ and ‘The Dark Knight‘ series.

    In honor of his new film ‘Oppenheimer,’ which opens in theaters on July 21st, Moviefone is counting down every film Christopher Nolan has directed, including his latest.

    Let’s begin!

    12. ‘Following‘ (1998)

    Bill (Jeremy Theobald), an idle, unemployed aspiring writer, walks the crowded streets of London following randomly chosen strangers, a seemingly innocent entertainment that becomes dangerous when he crosses paths with a mysterious character.

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    11. ‘The Dark Knight Rises‘ (2012)

    Tom Hardy as Bane in 'The Dark Knight Rises.'
    Tom Hardy as Bane in ‘The Dark Knight Rises.’

    Following the death of District Attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), Batman (Christian Bale) assumes responsibility for Dent’s crimes to protect the late attorney’s reputation and is subsequently hunted by the Gotham City Police Department. Eight years later, Batman encounters the mysterious Selina Kyle (Anne Hathaway) and the villainous Bane (Tom Hardy), a new terrorist leader who overwhelms Gotham’s finest. The Dark Knight resurfaces to protect a city that has branded him an enemy.

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    10. ‘Interstellar‘ (2014)

    Matthew McConaughey in director Christopher Nolan's 'Interstellar.'
    (Center) Matthew McConaughey in director Christopher Nolan’s ‘Interstellar.’

    The adventures of a group of explorers who make use of a newly discovered wormhole to surpass the limitations on human space travel and conquer the vast distances involved in an interstellar voyage.

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    9. ‘Insomnia‘ (2002)

    Two Los Angeles homicide detectives (Al Pacino and Martin Donovan) are dispatched to a northern town where the sun doesn’t set to investigate the methodical murder of a local teen.

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    8. ‘Batman Begins‘ (2005)

    Liam Neeson in Christopher Nolan's 'Batman Begins.'
    Liam Neeson in Christopher Nolan’s ‘Batman Begins.’

    Driven by tragedy, billionaire Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) dedicates his life to uncovering and defeating the corruption that plagues his home, Gotham City. Unable to work within the system, he instead creates a new identity, a symbol of fear for the criminal underworld – The Batman.

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    7. ‘Tenet‘ (2020)

    John David Washington and Robert Pattinson in Christopher Nolan's 'Tenet.' Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.
    (L to R) John David Washington and Robert Pattinson in Christopher Nolan’s ‘Tenet.’ Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

    Armed with only one word – Tenet – and fighting for the survival of the entire world, the Protagonist (John David Washington) journeys through a twilight world of international espionage on a mission that will unfold in something beyond real time.

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    6. ‘The Prestige‘ (2006)

    Andy Serkis and Hugh Jackman in Christopher Nolan's 'The Prestige.'
    (L to R) Andy Serkis and Hugh Jackman in Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Prestige.’ Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

    A mysterious story of two magicians (Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale) whose intense rivalry leads them on a life-long battle for supremacy — full of obsession, deceit and jealousy with dangerous and deadly consequences.

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    5. ‘Inception‘ (2010)

    Leonardo DiCaprio in Christopher Nolan's 'Inception.'
    Leonardo DiCaprio in Christopher Nolan’s ‘Inception.’ Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

    Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio), a skilled thief who commits corporate espionage by infiltrating the subconscious of his targets is offered a chance to regain his old life as payment for a task considered to be impossible: “inception”, the implantation of another person’s idea into a target’s (Ken Watanabe) subconscious.

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    4. ‘Dunkirk‘ (2017)

    James D'Arcy and Kenneth Branagh in Christopher Nolan's 'Dunkirk.'
    (L to R) James D’Arcy and Kenneth Branagh in Christopher Nolan’s ‘Dunkirk.’ Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

    The story of the miraculous evacuation of Allied soldiers from Belgium, Britain, Canada and France, who were cut off and surrounded by the German army from the beaches and harbor of Dunkirk between May 26th and June 4th 1940 during World War II.

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    3. ‘Memento‘ (2001)

    Guy Pearce and Joe Pantoliano in Christopher Nolan's 'Memento.'
    (L to R) Guy Pearce and Joe Pantoliano in Christopher Nolan’s ‘Memento.’ Photo courtesy of Summit Entertainment.

    Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce) is tracking down the man who raped and murdered his wife. The difficulty of locating his wife’s killer, however, is compounded by the fact that he suffers from a rare, untreatable form of short-term memory loss. Although he can recall details of life before his accident, Leonard cannot remember what happened fifteen minutes ago, where he’s going, or why.

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    2. ‘The Dark Knight‘ (2008)

    Batman (Christian Bale) raises the stakes in his war on crime. With the help of Lt. Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman) and District Attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), Batman sets out to dismantle the remaining criminal organizations that plague the streets. The partnership proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to a reign of chaos unleashed by a rising criminal mastermind known to the terrified citizens of Gotham as the Joker (Heath Ledger).

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    1. ‘Oppenheimer‘ (2023)

    Cillian Murphy is J. Robert Oppenheimer in 'Oppenheimer,' written, produced, and directed by Christopher Nolan.
    Cillian Murphy is J. Robert Oppenheimer in ‘Oppenheimer,’ written, produced, and directed by Christopher Nolan.

    The story of J. Robert Oppenheimer’s (Cillian Murphy) role in the development of the atomic bomb during World War II.

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  • Best Mystery Movies

    Daniel Craig as Detective Benoit Blanc on the set of 'Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.'
    Daniel Craig as Detective Benoit Blanc on the set of ‘Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.’ Photo: Courtesy of John Wilson/Netflix © 2022.

    Everyone loves a good mystery, right?

    The rise in the genre’s popularity is a result of box office successes like Kenneth Branagh’s Hercule Poirot series, including ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ and ‘Death on the Nile,’ and director Rian Johnson‘s ‘Knives Out,’ and its new sequel, ‘Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,’ which is currently in theaters and premieres on Netflix December 23rd.

    In honor of ‘Glass Onion’s release, Moviefone is counting down the 25 greatest mystery movies of all time!

    Without further ado, grab your detective hat and let’s begin!

    25. Mystic River (2003)

    The lives of three men (Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, and Kevin Bacon) who were childhood friends are shattered when one of them has a family tragedy.
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    24. Bad Times at the El Royale (2018)

    Lake Tahoe, 1969. Seven strangers, each one with a secret to bury, meet at El Royale, a decadent motel with a dark past. In the course of a fateful night, everyone will have one last shot at redemption. Starring Jeff Bridges, Cynthia Erivo, Dakota Johnson, Jon Hamm, and Chris Hemsworth.

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    23. Death on the Nile (2022)

    Based on the 1937 novel by Agatha Christie, “Death on the Nile” is a daring mystery-thriller about the emotional chaos and deadly consequences triggered by obsessive love. Kenneth Branagh, back as the iconic detective Hercule Poirot, is joined by Tom Bateman, four-time Oscar® nominee Annette Bening, Russell Brand, Ali Fazal, Dawn French, Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer, Rose Leslie, Emma Mackey, Sophie Okonedo, Jennifer Saunders and Letitia Wright.

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    22. Murder Mystery (2019)

    On a long-awaited trip to Europe, a New York City cop (Adam Sandler) and his hairdresser wife (Jennifer Aniston) scramble to solve a baffling murder aboard a billionaire’s yacht.

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    21. Pokémon Detective Pikachu (2019)

    In a world where people collect pocket-size monsters (Pokémon) to do battle, a boy (Justice Smith) comes across an intelligent monster (Ryan Reynolds) who seeks to be a detective.

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    20. Sherlock Holmes (2009)

    Warner Bros. Pictures
    Warner Bros. Pictures

    Eccentric consulting detective Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) and Doctor John Watson (Jude Law) battle to bring down a new nemesis and unravel a deadly plot that could destroy England.

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    19. What Lies Beneath (2000)

    When Claire Spencer (Michelle Pfeiffer) starts hearing ghostly voices and seeing spooky images, she wonders if an otherworldly spirit is trying to contact her. All the while, her husband (Harrison Ford) tries to reassure her by telling her it’s all in her head. But as Claire investigates, she discovers that the man she loves might know more than he’s letting on.

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    18. A Simple Favor (2018)

    Stephanie (Anna Kendrick), a dedicated mother and popular vlogger, befriends Emily (Blake Lively), a mysterious upper-class woman whose son Nicky attends the same school as Miles, Stephanie’s son. When Emily asks her to pick Nicky up from school and then disappears, Stephanie undertakes an investigation that will dive deep into Emily’s cloudy past.

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    17. Prisoners (2013)

    Keller Dover (Hugh Jackman) faces a parent’s worst nightmare when his 6-year-old daughter, Anna (Erin Gerasimovich), and her friend go missing. The only lead is an old motorhome that had been parked on their street. The head of the investigation, Detective Loki (Jake Gyllenhaal), arrests the driver, but a lack of evidence forces Loki to release his only suspect. Dover, knowing that his daughter’s life is at stake, decides that he has no choice but to take matters into his own hands.

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    16. Charade (1963)

    After Regina Lampert (Audrey Hepburn) falls for the dashing Peter Joshua (Cary Grant) on a skiing holiday in the French Alps, she discovers upon her return to Paris that her husband has been murdered. Soon, she and Peter are giving chase to three of her late husband’s World War II cronies, Tex (James Coburn), Scobie (George Kennedy) and Gideon (Ned Glass), who are after a quarter of a million dollars the quartet stole while behind enemy lines. But why does Peter keep changing his name?

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    15. Shutter Island (2010)

    Paramount Pictures
    Paramount Pictures
    World War II soldier-turned-U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) investigates the disappearance of a patient from a hospital for the criminally insane, but his efforts are compromised by troubling visions and a mysterious doctor (Ben Kingsley).
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    14. Gosford Park (2002)

    Directed by Robert Altman, in 1930’s England, a group of pretentious rich and famous gather together for a weekend of relaxation at a hunting resort. But when a murder occurs, each one of these interesting characters becomes a suspect.

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    13. The Great Muppet Caper (1981)

    Kermit and Fozzie are newspaper reporters sent to London to interview Lady Holiday (Diana Rigg), a wealthy fashion designer whose priceless diamond necklace is stolen. Kermit meets and falls in love with her secretary, Miss Piggy. The jewel thieves strike again, and this time frame Miss Piggy. It’s up to Kermit and Muppets to bring the real culprits to justice.

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    12. Gone Girl (2014)

    With his wife’s (Rosamund Pike) disappearance having become the focus of an intense media circus, a man (Ben Affleck) sees the spotlight turned on him when it’s suspected that he may not be innocent.

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    11. Laura (1944)

    A police detective (Dana Andrews) falls in love with the woman (Gene Tierney) whose murder he’s investigating.

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    10. Murder on the Orient Express (2017)

    20th Century Fox
    20th Century Fox

    Genius Belgian detective Hercule Poirot (Kenneth Branagh) investigates the murder of an American tycoon aboard the Orient Express train.

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    9. The Nice Guys (2016)

    A private eye (Ryan Gosling) and a thug (Russell Crowe) investigate the apparent suicide of a fading porn star in 1970s Los Angeles and uncovers a conspiracy.

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    8. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)

    This English-language adaptation of the Swedish novel by Stieg Larsson follows a disgraced journalist, Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig), as he investigates the disappearance of a weary patriarch’s niece from 40 years ago. He is aided by the pierced, tattooed, punk computer hacker named Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara). As they work together in the investigation, Blomkvist and Salander uncover immense corruption beyond anything they have ever imagined.

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    7. Se7en (1995)

    Two homicide detectives are on a desperate hunt for a serial killer (Kevin Spacey) whose crimes are based on the “seven deadly sins” in this dark and haunting film that takes viewers from the tortured remains of one victim to the next. The seasoned Det. Sommerset (Morgan Freeman) researches each sin in an effort to get inside the killer’s mind, while his novice partner, Mills (Brad Pitt), scoffs at his efforts to unravel the case.

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    6. Memento (2001)

    Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce) is tracking down the man who raped and murdered his wife. The difficulty of locating his wife’s killer, however, is compounded by the fact that he suffers from a rare, untreatable form of short-term memory loss. Although he can recall details of life before his accident, Leonard cannot remember what happened fifteen minutes ago, where he’s going, or why.

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    5. Brick (2006)

    Focus Features
    Focus Features
    A teenage loner (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) pushes his way into the underworld of a high school crime ring to investigate the disappearance of his ex-girlfriend (Emilie de Ravin).
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    4. Murder on the Orient Express (1974)

    In 1935, when his train is stopped by deep snow, detective Hercule Poirot (Albert Finney) is called on to solve a murder that occurred in his car the night before.
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    3. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)

    A petty thief (Robert Downey Jr.) posing as an actor is brought to Los Angeles for an unlikely audition and finds himself in the middle of a murder investigation along with his high school dream girl (Michelle Monaghan) and a detective (Val Kilmer) who’s been training him for his upcoming role…

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    2. Knives Out (2019)

    When renowned crime novelist Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) is found dead at his estate just after his 85th birthday, the inquisitive and debonair Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is mysteriously enlisted to investigate. From Harlan’s dysfunctional family to his devoted staff, Blanc sifts through a web of red herrings and self-serving lies to uncover the truth behind Harlan’s untimely death.

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    1. Clue (1985)

    Paramount Pictures
    Paramount Pictures

    Clue finds six colorful dinner guests (Eileen Brennan, Madeline Kahn, Christopher Lloyd, Michael McKean, Martin Mull, and Lesley Ann Warren) gathered at the mansion of their host, Mr. Boddy (Lee Ving) — who turns up dead after his secret is exposed: He was blackmailing all of them. With the killer among them, the guests and Boddy’s chatty butler (Tim Curry) must suss out the culprit before the body count rises.

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  • ‘Titanic,’ ‘Goonies,’ ‘Die Hard’ Among 2017 National Film Registry Selections

    The Library of Congress announced on Wednesday its annual additions to the National Film Registry, which preserves films of historic, cultural, and aesthetic importance. And like previous classes of inductees, the 25 pictures included this year are an eclectic bunch featuring Hollywood classics, recent critical darlings, and beloved children’s flicks, among many others.

    Among the highlights of the 2017 group are Oscar-winning blockbuster “Titanic,” Disney animated classic “Dumbo,” and audience favorite ’80s flicks “Die Hard,” “The Goonies,” and “Field of Dreams.” The 1978 version of “Superman,” WWII drama “Gentleman’s Agreement,” Christopher Nolan thriller “Memento,” and Katharine Hepburn-Spencer Tracy-Sidney Poitier classic “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” also made the cut.

    According to the official announcement from Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, the 2017 selections span nearly 100 years of cinema, from 1905 to 2000. Their induction brings the National Film Registry’s total number of motion pictures to 725.

    “The selection of a film to the National Film Registry recognizes its importance to American cinema and the nation’s cultural and historical heritage,” said Hayden in a statement. “Our love affair with motion pictures is a testament to their enduring power to enlighten, inspire and inform us as individuals and a nation as a whole. Being tasked with selecting only 25 each year is daunting because there are so many great films deserving of this honor.”

    The full list of 2017 inductees, in alphabetical order, is below.

    Films Selected for the 2017 National Film Registry

    1. Ace in the Hole (aka Big Carnival) (1951)
    2. Boulevard Nights (1979)
    3. Die Hard (1988)
    4. Dumbo (1941)
    5. Field of Dreams (1989)
    6. 4 Little Girls (1997)
    7. Fuentes Family Home Movies Collection (1920s and 1930s)
    8. Gentleman’s Agreement (1947)
    9. The Goonies (1985)
    10. Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (1967)
    11. He Who Gets Slapped (1924)
    12. Interior New York Subway, 14th Street to 42nd Street (1905)
    13. La Bamba (1987)
    14. Lives of Performers (1972)
    15. Memento (2000)
    16. Only Angels Have Wings (1939)
    17. The Sinking of the Lusitania (1918)
    18. Spartacus (1960)
    19. Superman (1978)
    20. Thelonious Monk: Straight, No Chaser (1988)
    21. Time and Dreams (1976)
    22. Titanic (1997)
    23. To Sleep with Anger (1990)
    24. Wanda (1971)
    25. With the Abraham Lincoln Brigade in Spain (1937-1938)

    [via: Library of Congress]

  • Christopher Nolan’s Top Rated Movies

    the dark knight 2008Christopher Nolan is one of the most inventive directors of his generation, pushing the envelope with each movie. He casts brilliant actors and allows them to demonstrate their courage, humanity, and passion, making for powerful and emotional storytelling. Nolan is never locked into one genre — he has tackled period pieces, outer space thrillers, even dramas that feature the ability to shape people’s dreams. He also successfully rebooted the Batman movie franchise, creating a new take on Bruce Wayne along with the best Joker audiences have ever seen. This list doesn’t cover all the movies Nolan has directed, but it highlights some of his — and cinema’s — finest to date.

    ‘Inception’ (2010)

    “Inception,” is creative and cutting edge, with visual effects that showcase dream worlds where the rules of gravity and physics don’t apply. Leonardo DiCaprio leads a cast that explores the exciting and dangerous realm of dreams. Wrapped within this visually mind-bending futuristic film is a deeply personal story of loss. As his team invades the mind of a young businessman, DiCaprio’s character must come to terms with the tragic suicide of his wife. Until he is able to do so, his mind’s projection of her threatens to destroy every dream he is in and every person within the dream. The cast includes Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page, Tom Hardy, Ken Watanabe, and Marion Cotillard, who all demonstrate fearlessness in the face of achieving the impossible.

    ‘Interstellar’ (2014)

    A remarkable family drama, “Interstellar” also explores the realms of physics, faith, space exploration, and time travel. Matthew McConaughey leads a team of astronauts through a wormhole to investigate three possibly inhabitable planets. At the time of his departure, his daughter (played by Jessica Chastain) is a young and curious girl who has a knack for science and the ability to see what others cannot. As her father is away in space, time passes very slowly for him (because, science) and very quickly for her, so when his crew is stuck outside a black hole with no way home, she becomes an adult back on earth. Through a series of incredible events, McConaughey must find a way to communicate with his daughter, find his way home, and ultimately save Earth. The profoundness of “Interstellar” will have you wanting to call the people you love, and the ending will leave you breathless.

    ‘Memento’ (2001)

    One of Nolan’s first movies, “Memento” has a creatively mind-blowing plot, essentially telling the story in reverse order. The protagonist, played by Guy Pearce, suffers from a type of amnesia that stops him from creating any new memories. As Pearce’s character attempts to investigate the murder of his wife, he must write down clues using a series of hand-written notes and tattoos. Eventually, his body is covered in tattoos and his clues help him build his case, but the memory loss allows him to be manipulated by some very dangerous people, including Carrie-Anne Moss and Joe Pantoliano. The jaw-dropping ending reveals the frightening truth of what Pearce learns. “Memento” is a masterclass in reverse storytelling that will leave you equally disturbed and intrigued.

    ‘Batman Begins’ (2005)

    Through his work on “Batman Begins,” Christopher Nolan officially “grounded” superhero movies and set them in a reality more plausible than spandex and capes. His versions of Batman and Gotham City were darker, more rooted in the comic books, and more realistic than in previous “Batman” movies. In “Batman Begins,” Nolan explores Bruce Wayne’s League of Assassins martial arts training, his inspiration for wanting to rebuild Gotham, and his transformation into Batman. Christian Bale is a pensive Bruce Wayne; Michael Caine is a delightful and meddling Alfred; Liam Neeson is a quick-witted and deadly Ra’s al Ghul. After being haunted by his parents’ deaths for years and going on a quest of self-discovery, Bruce Wayne decides to use his skills to save his city from impending destruction. “Batman Begins” revived a dying franchise, which Nolan then turned into a successful trilogy.

    ‘The Dark Knight’ (2008)

    “The Dark Knight” is the second of Nolan’s Batman trilogy. The story starts by featuring a corrupt city when the District Attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) and Police Commissioner Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman) decide to clean it of organized crime. An optimistic Bruce Wayne believes he can give up his alter ego to live with Rachel Dawes (Maggie Gyllenhaal) — until the Joker (Heath Ledger) throws a large, murder-filled wrench in his plans. The movie follows the Joker and Wayne as the Joker threatens to cause more and more mayhem, and Wayne must make some tough decisions on who he can save. Combined with Ledger’s haunting performance — and tragic death — it’s easy to see why “The Dark Knight” grossed over $158 million opening weekend.

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  • 15 Things You Never Knew About Christopher Nolan’s ‘Memento’

    As opening scenes go, you don’t get much better than “Memento,” Christopher Nolan‘s gripping film. And, as features go, few are as scary-good as this one. A thriller about memory, reality and, um, tattoos, “Memento’s” twisty plot more than holds up 15 years later. Some would say it’s “The Dark Knight” director’s best film.

    Forget the pending remake that has everyone crying “too soon;” in honor of the film’s 15th anniversary this week, here are 15 things you never knew about this modern classic.

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    1. The brothers Nolan — Christopher (pictured) and Jonathan — came up with the idea for the film while on a 2000 mile road trip, driving from Chicago to Los Angeles.

    2. The final film was based on Jonah’s short story, “Memento Mori,” which was published after the movie.

    3. Every major studio passed on the film.

    4. Before Guy Pearce secured the role of Leonard, Brad Pitt, Aaron Eckhart, and Thomas Jane were considered for the role.

    5. Nolan’s first choice for the role of Leonard? Alec Baldwin.

    6. While the opening scene plays in reverse, the only sound effect that is played backwards is Teddy (Joe Pantoliano, above) screaming “No.”

    7. During his audition to play the memorable character of Sammy, Stephen Tobolowsky had mentioned to the director that he had once experienced amnesia as a result of taking an experimental pain killer following surgery. Tobolowsky said his experience may have helped earn him the role.

    8. Two actors in the film would go on to have roles in Nolan’s “Batman Begins:” Mark Boone Junior and the late Larry Holden. The former played Leonard’s seedy motel clerk before playing corrupt GCPD cop Flass; the latter played Jimmy in “Memento” before being cast as Finch, Gotham’s District Attorney. (Holden also had a small role in Nolan’s 2002 thriller, “Insomnia.”)

    9. Fans of the film, if they pay attention, might be able to hear Christopher Nolan’s voice in a key scene. During Teddy’s line, “You don’t have a clue, you freak!” Nolan felt that Pantoliano did not quite deliver the last two words of the line in the way he had envisioned. So it’s Nolan’s voice on the final film saying “you freak.” (Rather, Nolan doing an impersonation of Pantoliano’s voice. The actor was unaware of the dub, until an interview for “Anatomy of a Scene: ‘Memento.’”

    10. For the role of the duplicitous Natalie, actor Mary McCormack lobbied hard for the part before filmmakers ultimately when with Carrie Anne-Moss (above), who was hot off “The Matrix” at the time. On casting Moss, Nolan said she “added an enormous amount to the role of Natalie that wasn’t on the page.”

    11. On the Limited Edition DVD release, users had to solve a complicated series of questions on the DVD menu to unlock a version of the film’s events edited in chronological order.

    12. The film took an insanely-fast 25 days to shoot. And according to the director, Moss shot her entire role in eight days.

    13. When taking “Memento” to Sundance, production company Newmarket also acquired “Donnie Darko” — linking the destinies of two indie (and cult-y) films.

    14. See that white Honda Civic parked next to Leonard’s Jaguar at the hotel? That’s Christopher Nolan’s car at the time of production.


    15. Upon its initial release, “Memento” made back five times its production budget. Few films can claim that level of profitability outside low-budget, Blumhouse-type horror features.