Robert E. Eliot
Robert E. Eliot is the author of Nolanverse: Exploring the Greatest Illusion in Movie History: An Unauthorized New Analysis of The Dark Knight Rises and Mi Negro Amigo: An Unauthorized New Analysis of Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight. He lives and works in the state of Washington and looks forward to writing additional nonfiction books in the future.
Are there particular films that have influenced your writing?
In my nonfiction books analyzing Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight and Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises, I pride myself on bringing to bear the entirety of each respective auteur’s body of work. That said, there are additional filmmakers who are also pertinent to the discussion. For example, in examining the origins of Tarantino’s eighth film, the cinema of director John Carpenter looms large. And I would argue that a film like Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey is also quietly relevant insofar as we are able to perceive subtle, intriguing moments of visual parallel within The Dark Knight Rises. I find all of these filmmakers to be truly inspiring.
What’s your favorite comic strip or graphic novel?
As a reader or viewer who pays close attention to the visual component in various forms of storytelling, I am drawn to any graphic novel or comic book that has been illustrated by the highly accomplished artist Bill Sienkiewicz. This man has truly done his part to elevate the craft of illustration to an elite level of artistry. I would love to be able to take the time to check out everything that he has ever drawn. The bold, abstract style of his work is incredible.
Is there a work of art that you love? Why? Have you ever visited it in person?
I remember visiting the Art Institute of Chicago, where I was able to see some paintings by the renowned English Romantic artist J.M.W. Turner. Turner’s expansive oeuvre of paintings, watercolors, and sketches is something to behold—in particular, his paintings involving turbulent, dramatic fires or shipwrecks. During his lifetime, it was written that “by a patient perseverance, he has overcome all the difficulties of the art; so that the fine taste and colour which his drawings possess are scarcely to be found in any other, and are accompanied with a broad, firm chiaroscuro and a light and elegant touch.”
Is there a genre of music that influences your writing/thinking? Do you listen to music while you write?
Yes, instrumental music can be helpful in boosting concentration during the writing process, and I’m frequently interested in the soundtracks of John Barry. Barry practically devised a whole new sound for the original Bond films, which was developed further in other films. No other composer is able to capture quite the same sense of earnest adventure and globetrotting intrigue.
What do you worry about?
I am writing this in the year 2024. Without going into extensive detail, I think there is generally enough to be genuinely concerned about. Enough said there.
