The documentary Christopher Nolan calls “one of the great American films”
Cited as the master of the modern cinematic spectacle by many fans, Christopher Nolan has always attracted widespread global attention whenever he embarks on a new project. That was certainly the case with his 2023 biopic Oppenheimer, which found itself at the centre of one of the year’s biggest social media trends along with Greta Gerwig’s Barbie.
Although Barbie garnered greater returns at the box office, Nolan has emerged as the frontrunner in the awards circuit as he continues to rack up major accolades for what he achieved with Oppenheimer. The movie, starring the likes of Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jr, picked up 13 nominations at this year’s edition of the Oscars, including a bid for the coveted ‘Best Picture’ category.
Throughout his career, Nolan has spoken about his influences on multiple occasions, referencing the works of great pioneers such as Stanley Kubrick. During a segment for TCM, the Dunkirk director opened up about one of his favourite documentaries, which changed the way he thought of cinematic storytelling and narrative power.
Titled Hoop Dreams, Steve James’ 1994 magnum opus is an overwhelmingly nuanced and emotional work about two Black school students who attempt to make it out of their socioeconomic stratum by pursuing the elusive dream of becoming NBA players. Along the way, we don’t just learn about the social structures that govern dreams but also what it means to continue living with dashed hopes.
When asked to elaborate on the film, Nolan commented: “It’s a documentary about teenage basketball players filmed over five years. The story, it turns out to be, just more involving and incredible than anything a screenwriter could come up with. I think it shows the power of simple documentary storytelling. It’s not overly stylised.”
According to the filmmaker, Hoop Dreams isn’t just notable within the sphere of documentaries but is a significant high point for American cinema. The filmmaker added: “It just has an incredible story, an incredible connection with the people in the community that are portrayed. It’s not just a great documentary but one of the great American films and well worth checking out if you haven’t seen it.”
Considered by many to be among the greatest movies from the 1990s, Hoop Dreams is a rare work that captures the seemingly infinite spectrum of the human condition. As we follow the two boys over the course of years, we are pulled into their world and share their joys as well as their disappointments.
Check out the full interview below.
