Christopher Nolan: "I'm not ashamed of being a Fast and Furious fan"

If, like Stephen Colbert, you don’t know the saga, the filmmaker advises you to start with the third opus, Tokyo Drift.

At the end of 2020, shortly after the theatrical release of Tenetits director Christopher Nolan revealed to be a big fan of the action franchise from Universal, Fast and Furious.

“I’ve been watching them since the original, the Rob Cohen one, but I have a soft spot for Tokyo Drift (No. 3, editor’s note), he said. Then for the talent of Justin Lin (director of episodes 3 to 6), with whom the films get bigger and bigger and crazier. They even become ‘something else’, but something fun. Usually, with this kind of sequel, people complain that it becomes too big, too exaggerated. But if the studios see things so big, it’s because we – the public – demand it! We do not accept smaller suites. This is also the lesson that Fincher learned from Alien 3. By attempting this, no one is happy. Finally, personally, I like this film. More than him, anyway.”

When Tenet was released in American theaters in IMAX, and his latest film, OppenheimerEast the big favorite for the next Oscars with 13 nominations, Nolan returns to this passion with Stephen Colbert. When the host admits to him that he has never seen any film in this saga led by Vin Diesel, he advises him to start with the third opus released in 2006 at the cinema.

“I’m not ashamed to be a fan of Fast and Furious, the director confided to him. It’s a thrilling action franchise. Have you ever seen any of them? I watch these films all the time, I love them! I’m surprised you haven’t seen a single one. It is one of the few sagas with a fully developed specific arc and mythology. I would start with Tokyo Driftwhich can be watched as a single film.

During this same interview, Nolan obviously returned to his own career, stating in particular that “you’re not supposed to understand everything in Tenet.”

“If you experience my film as an experience, then you will understand, he continues. I strongly believe in this. I feel like people who are frustrated with my storytelling are missing out a bit (of what I want to say). It is not a puzzle to be put together, but an experience to be had, if possible at the cinema, although you can also watch the films at home. Of all the ones I’ve done, Tenet is, I believe, the one that most represents this idea of the experience of seeing a film. He talks about witnessing a spy story. He’s trying to build something out of that experience, and he’s taking you to this beautiful place, and a little crazy at the same time. It’s about sound, music and a gigantic image.”

He also took advantage of this invitation to participate in an excellent sketch with the host, where he parodies himself, playing with his image as a screenwriter and director “cerebral”fan of convoluted stories.

An improbable video can be found below: