[patteeu]

Originally Posted by Reaper16

"Self-indulgent" is one of those terms, like "pretentious" that doesn't mean anything anymore. They're terms used nowadays in place of saying "this person or thing doesn't align with my tastes."

TWBB is tremendously entertaining, if one is entertained by tension, deep character examination, camerawork that has an understanding of the artform, incredible acting (from Day-Lewis and Dano), and themes that are actually explored as themes (as opposed to the, say, Nolan Batman trilogy, which throws out buzzwords like 'justice' and 'authority' and 'fear' and etc. in a statement by some character and then doesn't bother to explore or complicate those buzzwords very much).

And, as always when defensive accusations of snobbery start getting tossed around, I have to iterate that this isn't an either/or thing. It's OK to be entertained by inconsequential popcorn cinema AND art-house cinema. I watch both and I'm entertained by both. That I expect more from a director like Christopher Nolan doesn't change that.

"Self-indulgent" and "pretentious" still mean the same things they always did.