Stanko's Stance

Director: Christopher Nolan
Writers: Christopher Nolan
Staring: Jeremy Theobald, Alex Haw, Lucy Russell
Streaming: Rental
Release Date: November 5, 1999 (UK)

In my quest to see every movie Christopher Nolan, I saved his first for last. A young desperate writer only known as The Young Man (Jeremy Theobald) is entranced by the charisma and law-breaking of Cobb (Alex Haw). From there the non-linear story evolves into a bleak story or lesson in trust.

Following is more than I expected, in particular in Nolan’s writing. As the years have gone on, Nolan’s movies grow longer and more drawn out. The themes overshadow everything, for better of for worse. In Following, the story is at center stage while the themes and motifs are are little clouds in the sky. It is simple and quick, literally because it is only 69 minutes long!

You still get plenty of Nolan and his obsession with time. Following is not told linearly, but you can draw a straight line through all the buttons of the plot.

• Shocking revelation is that Alex Haw, who played Cobb, acted only once! In just this movie! He is now an architect in London!
• The dialogue in Following reminded me most of his latest film Tenet (2020) and a little bit of Inception (2010). It is quick and personable; a lot more people just having conversations rather than dealing in deep proverbs.
• This is the second time Nolan used the name Cobb. Alex Haw’s character in this film, and Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) in Inception. Would love to ask him if that was on purpose.
• The ending of Following genuinely had me shocked. Could not have predicted how it ended up unfolding.

Stanko Rating: B+ (4.0/5 Stars)

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