'To Be Able to Identify the Mechanism Does Not Invalidate the Mechanism' — Christopher Nolan Lays Out a 'Fundamental Flaw' With Amateur Film Criticism

Christopher Nolan has laid out what he believes to be a "fundamental flaw" with amateur film criticism.

The director in charge of July box office hit The Odyssey examined how audiences pick apart movies during an interview with podcast host Zhong Shu. He took aim at those who recognize the inner workings of how a movie chooses to tell its story and then spin that as if it's a negative.

He explained, "To identify the mechanism does not invalidate the mechanism."

"I think that, when you're talking about storytelling, you're always in conversation with the expectations of the audience," Nolan said. "So it really is an energy that's brought from the audience, as well as an energy that's put forward from the story itself.

"The trite version of this, or the criticism often leveled at movies in general, is, 'Oh, the character has to be made sympathetic, so the character is manipulated in different ways and changed in different ways.' That's a fundamental flaw of film criticism in a way, or storytelling criticism, because to be able to identify the mechanism does not invalidate the mechanism.

"That's a real problem with criticism today because people have this idea that, 'Because I can understand why the story affects me the way it is, therefore, it didn't work.' That's not how storytelling works."

He continued, saying that, when storytellers create their heroic figures, they must be "mindful of the energy that the audience brings to that story and the interaction between our intention and the way the audience receives that."

Nolan opened the door for critics to pick apart his latest project when The Odyssey set sail in theaters, including Imax, last month. Although the negative noise surrounding it actually quietened down a bit upon its release, there are those who have been quite vocal when it comes to their problems with the film.

One notable individual to have spoken up included Greek translator Emily Wilson, who Nolan had previously cited during the lead-up to The Odyssey's premiere. She published a harsh (and lengthy) review of the movie last week, saying she would have been "ashamed to have written any part of this script."

As Nolan elaborated on his thoughts, he made it clear that his complaint with how some approach film criticism is not directed at professional critics, but amateur ones.

"When I was talking about film criticism, I was talking more about amateur film criticism than professional film criticism because professional film criticism tends to understand the necessity for the mechanisms. So, you're looking at a lingua franca of storytelling created by Hollywood for the last hundred years that is very, effectively universal.

"So, it is its own language, and that language is understood by people all over the world, which is what's incredible about it. It is a very accessible, modern language of storytelling, and it has certain rules. It has conventions. You can break those conventions. You can bend them. You can move them, but you have to be aware of them the whole time.

Here is my interview with Christopher Nolan: are you a bard for a civilization at dusk? pic.twitter.com/dQION5v6bl

"As I say, I'm thinking more of amateur criticism when I say that people who, because they feel they've identified the mechanism, they feel that it invalidates it, that can be true of certain elements, and film grammar – film language – evolves with that. So, when a trope becomes too familiar to an audience, then it has to be changed, but we do, as filmmakers, avail ourselves of that common language. We build on that understanding. Our audience has seen many films, and they understand that language, and so you're playing with that language."

Nolan is no stranger to criticism online. Conversations about The Odyssey have been polluted by complaints regarding a lack of "historical accuracy" and its casting choices. The director has said he wasn't too bothered by it, though, especially when it came to the backlash that arrived before the film even premiered.

He told The Telegraph that the conversations that happen before a film's arrival are "always irrelevant." He also added that his 10 years of work with Batman helped him prepare for some of the more vocal moviegoers.

When it comes to The Odyssey's journey post-release, however, it seems the cast and crew backing the film have little to worry about. As relayed by review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, critics and audiences have largely fallen in love with the film. We here at IGN gave it an 8/10 review.

The movie recently had its 70mm Imax release extended by one month after it exceeded expectations at the box office during its July 17 opening weekend. Following weekends have been similarly successful, as its second dropped just 19%, while its third saw it cross $900 million globally as it continues the trek to $1 billion.

Photo by Han Myung-Gu/WireImage.

Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He's best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).