Tenet

It has been a long and painful road to get here. The date on the poster is certainly not the date we got this film and there was a point in time I thought this would just be pushed into next year. For better or worse, Tenet has released to theaters around the world and a movie landscape the likes of which we've never seen before. It's the first true blockbuster to do so as things like Unhinged or New Mutants aren't exactly putting butts in seats outside of people just wanting to get out of the house. But a Christopher Nolan sci-fi film? Now people have a decision to make. 

That's unfortunate too because Tenet deserves to be seen on the biggest screen possible with grand visuals and loud sound, but you won't see me recommending anyone actually go see it given everything going on. All I will say is that I felt safe in my theater (again, with 2 masks) and I basically didn't touch anything the entire time. 

Getting massive Inception vibes here...

Actually going to the movies allows you to focus a lot better too. And boy oh boy, are you going to need to focus on Tenet, perhaps more than any other Christopher Nolan film before it. It's a strange experience that feels reminiscent of Interstellar and somewhat Inception, but dialed up to 11; being utterly confused, but having highly enjoyed what you just watched. With Interstellar it was because I needed to learn more of the science. With Inception - I got it - but knew I just needed another viewing to hone my understanding. With Tenet? I'm probably going to need 3-4 more viewings to truly "get" it. 

I imagine for some that sounds like too much. Those who probably don't hold Christopher Nolan in as high regard as I do will probably throw it away to a director just being confusing for confusing's sake (hint: they're both kind of right). So, go in with the preface that mileage will vary for different folks and your opinion on the film likely comes down to how much leash you're willing to give Nolan as a director. For me? He's got probably the longest leash of any director in Hollywood right now and I trust that after spending some more time with Tenet that everything will come together. This review reflects a bit of that trust + my initial experience. 

Tenet is Nolan's return to time-based sci-fi, which is generally what we've come to know him as the master of. After Dunkirk, it's exciting to see him back in this space and bringing new, original content to the table. It also acts, probably more than any one of his film's before it, as a Bond film look-a-like with shadowy organizations, mysterious motives, a core secret agent, and a main villain. To say a whole lot more about the plot would be a disservice because of spoilers and because I'd confuse you (and myself) so just know this is basically Nolan's first "straight-forward" (pun definitely intended) spy vehicle. Within the trailers, you've likely noticed the "rewinding" effect of certain moments - an element called time inversion - and know that it's at the core of the plot and the core of what makes Tenet so remarkable. It will also likely be the primary source of your confusion.

Denver drivers be like...

This is your mind on a Nolan film

If you're like me (and most of my audience), just strap in for the ride and keep up as best you can. Again, I trust that the plot will work out as I study it more - and that's almost something that excites me - but in broad strokes, I knew what was going on. Strangely, I think Tenet could have used some more exposition dialogue to explain some of the more concrete things about the world, especially at the end where it feels like the pace has you in the passenger seat of a Tesla in ludicrous mode. But, much like being in a Tesla on ludicrous mode (something I've not done, but can only imagine), you're going to be so taken aback by the spectacle of it all that you'll hardly care. Tenet is hugely ambitious and with that creates visuals, moments, and entire scenes that I'll personally guarantee you've never seen before. It's especially fresh after this year where we've really only been treated to a handful of Netflix or Prime films that range from "meh" to "pretty good" (with one standout exception). Tenet represents some of the best of cinema, pushing the medium with original content, and giving us something that must be seen in a large theater format vs. the TV that you think is quite large (until you see an IMAX). It's LOUD (sometimes too loud for its own good) with an energizing original score that fills in perfectly for Hans Zimmer and the IMAX-shot scenes are glorious, with special effects that look miraculous and wild. 

At its center is John David Washington who quickly proves he's leading man material, much like he did in BlacKkKlansman. He's the main person going through this journey as "The Protagonist" and we're learning things at the same time he is. Along the way he meets a mysterious, but playful Robert Pattinson (their friendly chemistry is delightful), an elegant Elizabeth Debicki, and our main villain, Kenneth Branagh. I was impressed with this cast of mostly "newbies" in the Nolan world as they create memorable characters for us to spend our time with, even if we never do learn the name of JDW.

"I always feel like, somebody's watchin meeeeee!"

Tenet comes at perhaps one of the most interesting times a film could ever hit theaters. It acts as both a litmus test for how comfortable people are, how well a crippled industry (theaters, not the actors) have responded to the pandemic, and gauges how far people may have shifted to just being comfortable sitting at home to get their movies. Underneath the film are many layers of analysis that I'm sure will be done for years to come. But honestly? Who better to lead us [safely] back to the theaters than Christopher Nolan? Tenet represents his ambition at one of its highest points and his originality even higher. Given that it almost begs multiple viewings, it could be the "savior" that theaters are looking for and it's likely going to be one of the films you remember most significantly this year, for one reason or another.

CONS

• Definitely confusing. There's no sugar coating it. I could have used more direct exposition
• Some pacing issues in the back half. The final 45 minutes is a breakneck speed
• Loud in IMAX to the point where a few moments of dialogue I had a hard time hearing

PROS

• Edited well, which is important in a film like this
• It's once again clear why Christopher Nolan puts butts in seats. The man's originality and willingness to play/think differently about time is unparalleled
• Solid cast of characters all around, with strong performances when/where they're needed
• Incredible original score. Hans Zimmer is still missed because #Zimmer4Lyfe but this score goes quite "hard" as the kids say
• Stunning visuals that create things you've never seen before. It just keeps upping the ante and blowing your mind
• Per usual, a great ending (though not Nolan's outright best)
• Confident in its world and storytelling which will likely be analysed by many (including me) for years to come
• Obviously has some added importance on its shoulders, given...you know...2020

Rath's Review Score | 9/10