Shockingly, Christopher Nolan has NEVER been nominated for a "Best Director" Academy Award. Inception is his only film to have received a "Best Picture" nod, while both that and Memento were nominated for "Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen". However, he has yet to be awarded anything from the Academy; a truly shocking statement when you look back on the films mentioned above as well as the likes of The Prestige and The Dark Knight. Hopefully that is set to change next week with his third and final Batman movie. Talking in the latest issue of Entertainment Weekly, here's what the director had to say about those snubs and the chances of being nominated for The Dark Knight Rises.
"This is how I honestly feel: I've been nominated for an Oscar three times. My films have had more than 20 nominations. The Academy has honoured my films in spectacular fashion, and I couldn't be happier."
"You don't take on Batman as a character because you think you'll win a prize. That's absurd. We want this to be the most exciting, emotionally engaging, and enjoyable blockbuster and audience can see this summer. I'm happy with it. It's the film I wanted to make. I look at what everyone has done, and I think they've done a good job. [Laughs] And I think I've done a good job of not obscuring it."
A very diplomatic answer from Nolan, although criticising the Academy wouldn't strengthen his chances come awards season! Regardless, it does seem as if prizes such as these mean very little to the director in comparison to making worthwhile and memorable films. From what we've seen of
The Dark Knight Rises so far, comic book movie fans and film lovers alike should start crossing their fingers that 2013 is Christopher Nolan's year!
Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ "The Dark Knight Rises" is the epic conclusion to filmmaker Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy. The screenplay is written by Christopher Nolan and Jonathan Nolan, story by Christopher Nolan & David S. Goyer. The film is produced by Emma Thomas, Christopher Nolan and Charles Roven, who previously teamed on “Batman Begins” and the record-breaking blockbuster "The Dark Knight." The executive producers are Benjamin Melniker, Michael E. Uslan, Kevin De La Noy and Thomas Tull, with Jordan Goldberg serving as co-producer. The film is based upon characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. Batman was created by Bob Kane.
STARRING:
Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne/Batman
Michael Caine as Alfred
Gary Oldman as Commissioner Jim Gordon
Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox
Tom Hardy as Bane
Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle/Catwoman
Joseph Gordon-Levitt as John Blake
Marion Cotillard as Miranda Tate
Josh Pence as Ra's Al Ghul
RELEASE DATE: July 20th, 2012