This wasted casting for Christopher Nolan's debut still disappoints me 14 years later

The beginning easily one of my favorites Christopher Nolan movies and the writer/director often casts the right actors in the right roles, but I still can't get over one annoying casting decision in 2010's mind-blowing blockbuster. Every Christopher Nolan film comes out as carefully planned and The beginning perhaps one of the greatest examples of this trait in his work. Although The beginningThe fact that the film's ending is so subjective is a large part of the film's enduring popularity, while other factors, such as ambitious cinematography, contribute to the film's success long after its release.

The beginning's staff is full of big names. While this doesn't necessarily guarantee that the project will do well, Nolan does help the film by doing an amazing job directing the cast of stars and bringing everything together. while I don't have a problem with basically any of them The beginningcastings ofthere is one particular reason that still bothers me. My complaint is not about their acting ability, but how the actor is used.

Michael Caine was initially underused in the crime scene

Professor Stephen Miles barely appears in the film

Michael Caine's collaboration with Christopher Nolan is earlier The beginningso I'm not surprised that the actor was brought back again for the 2010 dream movie. However, Kane's role as Miles – Dom Cobb's father-in-law – meant that he was barely on screen, and I strongly believe that Kane's gender identity should not have been used in such a small way. Then again, there is an annoyingly rational explanation for its insignificance The beginning. The film, story-wise, is incredibly tight.

Between all the lore and detailed world-building, it's amazing The beginning covered the ground he did. Other The beginning's five sleep levels, almost everything was an afterthought. So it's no surprise that Cobb's late wife's father isn't a major part of the story. while Kane gave a good performance as Milesalmost any actor could have played the role and had the same ineffectiveness. I firmly believe that if an actor like Kane is on board, a fairly large role befitting his reputation would be better.

Christopher Nolan did it 2 years later with Kane

Michael Caine is back for bigger roles in future Nolan films

The beginning It was Kane's fourth consecutive Nolan film, and the streak grew to five after the director's return as Alfred Pennyworth in the second Batman: 2012 The Dark Knight Rises. Alfred was a more prominent character than Miles The beginningso at least the 2010 film wasn't the beginning of Kane's reduced roles. Although the actor did not appear in 2023 Oppenheimerhe starred in three more films Christopher Nolan then movies The Dark Knight Riseswith The beginning marks the halfway point in Nolan's eight-film series.