Directors such as Nolan, generally search for compositional perfection in their filmographies. Therefore they are open to manipulate visual storytelling, narrative innovation, and practical effects. A film is not limited by a plot in their works, yet script is pretty crucial. They tend to use complex yet coherent plot layers. Time is often a character in Nolan’s films, manipulated and presented in complex structures. They love to play with visual palettes in the scenes. Colors tell a lot more than you think. The interplay of shadow and light is a consistent element as well. If you watch just the action in the screen, these films, might feel kind of complex, but if you pay attention in moods, display angles, color palette, soundscapes, tension frames individually, then you will see a different picture in the screen.
Nolan is far from being a narcissist. We are generally confused between the terms for narcissist and genious. Nolan is rather genious since his filmography challenges with audience's mind and interest during the journey to visual, cinematic perfection. Avarage directors give the audience what audience wants but directors such as Nolan, invate the audience to their meticulously crafted worlds.