Warner Bros. Pictures
When it comes to Christopher Nolan films, it always feels like a big event. The first movie I saw of his in theaters was The Dark Knight and every film since then has been the big film of the summer for me. For me, summer ends August 31st, the last day of August before September hits and everyone is going back to school. Tenet has had a long road to returning to theaters, as have many other films recently being released. I saw it at an advanced screening through Regal Cinemas on August 31st, so it was a great way to end the summer and see it with my friend (social distancing of course).
Christopher Nolan films can be confusing at times. Films like Memento and Inception are complex, but highly rewarding. Tenet easily marks Nolan’s most ambitious and perplexing film to date. Written and directed by Nolan, he tells us early on that this film isn’t about time travel, but instead time inversion. John David Washington stars as the Protagonist, a secret agent tasked with preventing the start of World War III by embarking on a time inversion mission. He enlists the help of Neil (Robert Pattinson) who has resources that will help him with his mission. The plot sounds simple, but I promise you that it is so much more.
Tenet marks Christopher Nolan’s eleventh film since his 1998 black and white film, Following. He has spent many years crafting his style of filmmaking and Tenet showcases everything that makes him such a great director. Tenet is the craziest and most bold film he has directed, even more so than Inception. I will admit that I was confused often throughout the film. The movie opens with an intense action scene that immediately follows with a discussion about Tenet. The pacing in the beginning moves so fast that it feels as if Tenet and time inversion isn’t an important part of the film. Once the film finds its footing, the pacing slows down and the plot thickens once more characters like Kat (Elizabeth Debicki) and her husband, Andrei (Kenneth Branagh), enter the picture. The film is still confusing as it slows down, but it is easier to follow once time inversion is explained.
The film feels big and the visuals are always stunning. One of the biggest moments of the film comes when Nolan destroys a 747 aircraft, with no CGI. He literally takes the plane and rams it in a building, and it was epic! The amount of dedication Nolan puts into this movie to make the action scenes believable is the reason he stands out amongst directors working today. The time inversion elements provided unique action that would only work in a Christopher Nolan film. Nolan can direct the action scenes that feel as if they are moving forward and backwards at the same time. There is an action scene that involves John David Washington that felt on par with the hallway action scene in Inception. It was that good.
Ludwig Goransson is no Hans Zimmer, but his score matches the story and tone of the film. The film plays around a lot with time and Goransson’s score often sounds like it is being reversed. It’s also very loud at times which amplifies the action scenes but sometimes overpowers conversations between characters. A problem that a lot of people are having, including myself, is that it is hard to understand some characters at times. Some characters wear masks and try to have a conversation while the score is blaring at the highest volume. I would pay extra money to have subtitles on the screen if I were to see it again.
Tenet isn’t my favorite Christopher Nolan film, but it certainly is an exhilarating film. At least it is a film that has been pushed back several times due to the pandemic and has been hyped up and delivered on the hype. Some films are getting hyped up because they are getting pushed back so often, like New Mutants, which honestly wasn’t worth the wait, but Tenet is a whole different story. I don’t see Nolan making another film that is as complex as Tenet. This is easily worth another rewatch to piece together all the small details and hopefully hear some of the conversations. I’m looking forward to watching this film with subtitles; it will be a whole new experience.
Planning to see Tenet? Click on the image below to see the movie, and be sure to come back and tell us what you thought!
Tenet has a run time of 2 hours 30 minutes and is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some suggestive references and brief strong language.
Share this post
