Can't believe people are saying Kubrick is overrated lol. Nolan is a bit overrated, but it is true that he has yet to make a poor film.It's arguable that David Lynch is slightly overrated. Although Mulholland Dr. and Blue Velvet are bonafide masterpieces.Twin Peaks was cool too.
I think Nolan has made several poor films, I've yet to seem him make a very good one.
Memento wasn't very bad, and I believe it's the most interesting and human he's ever been, but it ran into gimmick and repetition eventually, constrained by the very concept that originally invigorated it.
Due to the unexpected though (as proven by the mid second season dip in viewership) misunderstanding public love for
Twin Peaks, he's become a household name of quality filmmaking. Mulholland Drive's puzzling narrative appeals to the same group whose mouths water at one of Nolan's puzzle box films (there's a big distinction between what they're doing, and it's seen in how little love the less cohesive
Inland Empire gets in comparison) while the film's more evocative and emotional aesthetic raise the level of artistry. Lynch suits the kind of narrative audiences are looking for right now, and I think as a result he's been given a universal seal of approval. But Lynch has made some pretty bad stuff as well. Who has
Dune in their top ten? Who thought
Wild at Heart deserved the Palme D'or? When Lynch is great, it's sublime, when he's bad, it's unwatchable, but he's always Lynch.