Following

"Following" is a British indie film, released in 1998, written and directed by Christopher Nolan. I watched it for the first time the other day, marking a personal milestone I had set to watch every one of Nolan's excellent films. Among people making films today, I think Nolan is perhaps the most consistent and original. Following is an interesting glimpse at what Nolan would one day become. It's a film with a dark, neo-noir story, entirely in black and white, with an unsurprisingly competent script and excellent pacing and plot. The story jumps back and forth along the film's time-line constantly (not unlike Ink), yet the editing is silky and crisp and keeps the audience perfectly in-tune with what's going on.

It isn't Nolan's best film, but it's the embodiment of his talent in embryonic form. The idea behind the movie is powerful and interesting, yet simple. One of the reasons I love indie films is they aren't vehicles for bloated, mediocre ideas. They're just creative interpretations of usually simple ideas. The kind of thing that comes to you when you're bored in class or at work. There's something pure about one person's raw, unfettered idea that creates a special kind of cinema magic that's unseen in Hollywood these days.

Here's a trailer that provides a small taste of the film's unique style and presentation.