3. Identity
Would I be the man in the box or the prestige? Every one of Christopher Nolans films deals with issues involving identity, often centering on characters suffering from some form of existential crisis. Most of the protagonists are seeking answers to who they are, and many times obstacles take the form of characters that use lies and deception to conceal their true identity. The central theme of Following is identity, as the entire plot involves the mysterious Cobb manipulating The Young Man through deception and influencing him to take on an entirely different persona as a means of eventually framing him. Cobb teaches him the art of breaking into other peoples homes; the entire time schooling him on ones ability to identify a person just by observing their living conditions. The audience senses that Cobb gets off on violating other peoples personal space. The Young Man thinks he knows Cobb, looking to him as a kind of mentor, but he couldnt be more wrong. Even those who think they truly know Cobb, such as The Blonde, dont. Cobb has no true identity, and the film ends with him disappearing amidst a crowd of people. It also isnt a coincidence that Cobb, the true deceiver of the film, is the only character given a name. At its core, Following is a brief exposé into the nature of identity, how it defines us, and how it can be so easily violated. Memento deals with a protagonist who doesnt even know who he really is. The film leads the audience on into thinking they know the truth, but when Leonard finds out that he has the details of his past life and that of insurance customer Sammy Jankis confused, his (and our) whole world is flipped upside down. Of course, due to Leonards condition, he cant be sure that even the truth is the truth, causing him to willingly lie to himself in order to give his existence a purpose. At this point, Leonard is who he chooses to be: vengeful crusader. Leonards condition also calls into question the identity of others. He can never fully trust anyone, as they could potentially use his condition to their advantage. This is exactly what Natalie (Carrie-Anne Moss) does, getting him to attack a man named Dodd. Since the story is told in reverse, we are led to believe she is Leonards ally, but it turns out she is just using him as a pawn. By not being able to form new memories, Leonard can never know anybody, not even himself. Memento calls into question the relationship between memory and identity, and how one attempts to move on when it is taken away. No movie of Nolans deals with the art of deception quite like The Prestige. Everything, from the characters to the story to the script itself, is an act of deception, and the identities of both Angier and Borden are tested through different methods. For Borden, we find out that his identity is actually split between twin brothers; two men leading one life for the sake of the act. For Angier, he is able to create exact clones of himself using the machine Tesla built for him. However, in order to sell the act, he drowns the Angier standing in the machine, with the teleported copy receiving the applause. This entire plotline calls into question who Angier is. Is he the man drowning or receiving applause? Are they both legitimately Angier, or is the original the only true Angier? The film wisely leaves these questions for the audience to ponder. By the end of the movie we even find out that Angier isn't his real name, it is Lord Caldlow. On the other hand, it is Bordens personal life that suffers from his dedication to his craft; splitting one life among two. Neither lives a fulfilling life, effectively pushing away their loved ones. Both men are parallels of each other; willing to eviscerate their sense of self for their art, and they suffer for it greatly. Inception focuses on one man, Dom Cobb, and his journey of self discovery and reconciliation. One of the many theories surrounding the film is that the true inception of the film is actually Cobbs, and while this may not actually be the case, thematically it absolutely is. Cobb is a man so wracked with guilt that it infests every fiber of his being. He is entirely identified by his guilt, and it manifests itself in the form of his deceased wife Mal. While the plot hinges on the inception of Robert Fischer as a way for Cobb to get back to his kids, the true arc of the film belongs to Cobb. As the plot moves forward, Cobb recedes deeper and deeper into his subconscious until he meets the guilt that has defined him for so long. The climax is him finally coming to terms with his mistakes and letting the guilt go. It is only when he lets go that he is able to return to his children. Given the nature of the superhero genre, and the Batman character in particular, Nolan and Batman were a match made in heaven. Bruce is a man of fractured identities. In private, among those closest to him, he is the honest Bruce Wayne who saw his parents murdered in front of him. In public, he is Bruce Wayne, irresponsible and egocentric billionaire playboy. By night, he is Batman, the dark knight who instills fear in criminals. All provide a function of some kind, with Batman specifically as a means of channeling his rage in a positive and productive way. The classic question has always been, Who is Bruce Wayne? Is Batman the mask, or is Bruce? These questions have always been prevalent in the comics, and Nolan keeps them relevant throughout the entire trilogy. Whether true to the comics or not, the heart of The Dark Knight Trilogy is the journey of Bruce Wayne and his quest to become his own man outside of his tragic past. The nature of masks themselves is a huge thematic element as well. Masks are used as symbols to either inspire or provoke. The Batman persona is meant to be a symbol that inspires the good people of Gotham to take their city back from the corrupt. The Joker is a mystery throughout the entirety of The Dark Knight, defined only by his ghoulish clown makeup and alternating back stories. Joker is himself a perfect opponent to Batman, as he exists to corrupt everything he stands for. He is the negative to his positive, and both are further defined by their relationship with the other. Lets not forget Ras Al Ghul, who goes by the name Henri Ducard through most of Batman Begins, employing the use of decoys to keep his identity secret. The tactic runs in the family, as his daughter Talia does the same thing in The Dark Knight Rises. Bane is a man defined by his physicality, a walking wrecking ball who destroys the opposition. Selina Kyle is a fascinating character due to her ability to tune into different personality types to suit her needs; one moment being a frightened bystander, the next a confident seducer. The Dark Knight Trilogy is populated with a cast consisting of various identity complexes, and it is part of what makes the heroes and villains of the films so fascinating and entertaining to watch. How do our past experiences shape our present day sense of self? How do the memories of those past experiences drive us going forward? How do we know people really are who they say they are? These are questions woven in all of Nolan's films in some form, giving them a clear connection to each other.