The Nolan Variations: The Movies, Mysteries, and Marvels of Christopher Nolan

Christopher Nolan is one of the most bankable film directors today. He is one of the few that can be depended on to produce popular original movies. His films often experiment with different narrative devices and tend to rely more on old-school effects rather than computer animation. 

The Nolan Variations is a fairly linear history of Nolan's career. There are some biographical elements. However, they are primarily there to fill in the context of his art. There is coverage of important events and artists that had influenced his work. The focus then quickly moves to focus on his works. He worked on producing the films the way he wanted. After his small films became popular, he was given more and more latitude to make the film he wanted. 

He typically is heavily involved in the film, with credits for writing, directing and producing on most of his major films. He also frequently collaborated with Hans Zimmer on music, with the music and sound effects being integrated together on the film. Nolan will often shoot on location on glaciers or other surroundings. He has been known for big effects, such as crashing an airplane or demolishing a building. He will play with styles, filming Film Noir in the light. The book compares him to Alfred Hitchcock. Though both make different styles of movies, they leave their personal imprint.