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where does this idea that nolan wants to be hitchcock come from? just because they both like mysteries?? because nolan never seems to be trying to copy hitchcock's visual style in his movies, as stephanie's review itself points out. judging by the trailers, i would buy the idea that nolan is trying to copy the look of 'heat,' which nolan himself has acknowledged as an inspiration for the movie. (but it's silly anyway to talk about nolan as the hitchcock wannabe while we're still in the brief historical period when shymalan was allowed to make movies.)
oh well. judging from stephanie's batman begins review, she's firmly settled on the hitchcock theme as her hook for nolan reviews. it crops up there, without cause, too.
i don't doubt someone could have this reaction to 'the dark knight.' batman begins was definitely nolan's clunkiest movie, and bale never really found his footing. i'd check out denby's review in the new yorker for a competent expression of the objections stephanie's attempting here.
it's at least refreshing that stephanie dropped her over-the-top pauline kael impression for this one (nolan:hitchcock :: zacharek:kael??). but unfortunate in a way too -- kael had no problem recommending an otherwise crappy movie for a great performance. a true kael channeler would have spent 75% of this review on ledger. stephanie -- let's hope a genuine love of great acting isn't "the difference between you and *your* idol."
(one last point -- sorry -- can we drop the anachronistic use of the word "picture" for "movie"? kael actually grew up in the time when people used it. most of us didn't)
