THE GRAND SCENARIO
Christopher Nolan’s epic creation, the film Oppenheimer, is a meticulously crafted masterpiece that extends beyond three hours, sans any deleted scenes.
Nolan embraces a clear, singular vision for his cinematic works, discarding nothing during editing, and paying attention solely to what is indispensable to the narrative, as shared by Cillian Murphy.
Nolan’s filmmaking ethos includes shooting the bare minimum superfluous footage to uphold the aura surrounding his films and prevent anything that could detract from the finished piece.
Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer is a cinematic behemoth. Clocking in at over three hours, the film is brimming with narrative, making every moment count. Given the film’s tight production and editing, one might suspect a rigorous editing process that left much on the editing room floor. However, that’s not the case, says its lead Cillian Murphy, who assured us that Oppenheimer will not feature any deleted scenes, courtesy of Nolan’s unshakeable vision for this, his most significant work to date.
In conversation with FilmSweep’s Steve Weintraub, who queried about any excised scenes, Murphy disclosed that absolutely no content was removed from the movie. Nolan, with his distinct cinematic concept, leaves no excess in the editing room, save for concept arts or shots. Murphy, who has worked on six Nolan films to this point, clarified that the screenplay was fully realized on screen, with no time or effort squandered on superfluous elements.
“In Chris Nolan’s movies, there are no deleted scenes,” Murphy commented. “There are no DVD extras for his movies because the movie is the script. He has complete clarity about what will make the final cut– he doesn’t mess around trying to alter the story. That is the movie.”
Image via Warner Bros.
His Dark Knight trilogy is the closest we’ve gotten to see any leftovers, mostly attributed to his task of adapting comic books into movies. However, the predominant discards from his films seem to be concept arts, if anything else. Fragments of footage have occasionally featured in ‘making-of’ documentaries, or behind-the-scenes books. Nolan’s philosophy, as the director has previously pointed out, holds that deleted scenes might strip away a film’s mystique, sparking questions about what was excluded, rather than what was included. Thus, he prefers to shoot as little unnecessary footage as possible.
A Letdown For the DVD Aficionados
This isn’t the first time we’ve received confirmation that Nolan isn’t one to leave much out of his films. The director himself confirmed this to MTV.com back in 2012, following the release of The Dark Knight Rises: “I try to prune things out on paper since it’s incredibly costly to film things that won’t make the final cut,” he elucidated. “It also consumes a lot of time and energy. Almost all of my films have very few deleted scenes, which always disappoints the DVD enthusiasts.”
Oppenheimer is now being screened in theaters. Our interview with Cillian Murphy can be found below.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Christopher Nolan’s filmmaking approach
What is Christopher Nolan’s approach to filmmaking as explained by Cillian Murphy?
Cillian Murphy explains that Christopher Nolan embraces a singular vision for his cinematic works, discarding nothing during editing, and paying attention solely to what is indispensable to the narrative. Nolan’s filmmaking ethos includes shooting the bare minimum superfluous footage to uphold the aura surrounding his films and prevent anything that could detract from the finished piece.
Are there any deleted scenes in Nolan’s film Oppenheimer?
No, according to the film’s star, Cillian Murphy, there are no deleted scenes in the film Oppenheimer. He explains that Christopher Nolan has such a clear, distinct vision for his cinematic works that he leaves no excess in the editing room, save for concept arts or shots.
Does Nolan include DVD extras in his films?
No, Cillian Murphy states that there are no DVD extras for Christopher Nolan’s movies because the movie is the script. He has complete clarity about what will make the final cut and doesn’t mess around trying to alter the story.
How does Nolan view the inclusion of deleted scenes in films?
Nolan’s philosophy, as he has previously pointed out, holds that deleted scenes might strip away a film’s mystique, sparking questions about what was excluded, rather than what was included. Thus, he prefers to shoot as little unnecessary footage as possible.
Are Nolan’s films disappointing for DVD enthusiasts?
Yes, Nolan himself acknowledged that the absence of deleted scenes and DVD extras in his films could disappoint DVD enthusiasts. He tries to prune things out on paper since it’s incredibly costly to film things that won’t make the final cut, which also consumes a lot of time and energy.
More about Christopher Nolan’s filmmaking approach
- Christopher Nolan’s filmmaking approach
- Oppenheimer Movie
- Interview with Cillian Murphy
- Christopher Nolan on DVD Extras
- Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy
5 comments
Kinda sad for us DVD collectors tho…we always look for those extra bits.
gotta respect nolan’s dedication to his craft! it’s all about that clear vision, ain’t it? cillian murphy’s words jus put it in perspective.
I admire how Nolan sticks to his guns, keeps the mystique alive. kudos to him.
Chris Nolan, man! Genius! just think about it, he doesnt even need extra footage…his vision is crystal clear from the start.
No deleted scenes…? No DVD extras…? what a bummer. Makes ya wonder what we might be missing out on…