Not sure if you’d noticed, but there’s a lot of hype around Christopher Nolan’s new mind-bending blockbuster, Tenet, and, honestly, understandably so; a star director’s newest release, with a stellar cast, reopening cinema’s during the COVID-19 pandemic probably deserves the hype. I’ve seen it twice now and I have to say, it’s pretty damn good. But, like many films, it has its issues. It is not perfect, but we shouldn’t expect it to be, and I think a lot of people’s expectations are becoming detrimental to their experience of this film.
Ok, let’s try figure out what it’s about. The IMDB synopsis reads as such;
“Armed with only one word, Tenet, and fighting for survival of the entire world, a Protagonist journeys through a twilight world of international espionage on a mission that will unfold in something beyond real time”
I’d say that this is as close as you’re going to get to a detailed explanation of the plot without spoilers. Essentially, it’s a big spy movie with complicated time inversing things happening all over the place. And, I believe, that is all it is trying to be. A lot of people would have expected Nolan’s newest film to be similar to his others; as Jack Howard says, a film with high concept ideas that is really a character study. Take Inception for example, a big blockbuster action film with crazy concepts about dreams, and dreams within dreams, and dreams within dreams within dreams and so on, but at the centre of it, it’s a character study of Di Caprio’s character. Although a lot of people expected this to be the case with Tenet, it really isn’t. I mean John David Washington’s character is only ever referred to as ‘The Protagonist’, I really don’t think Nolan was ever trying to hide some super interesting and deep character study within this movie. Having said this, it is important to note that the film isn’t devoid of character, there’s a really nice friendship that develops throughout the film between Washington’s and Robert Pattinson’s character as well as an interesting dynamic between Elizabeth Debicki’s character and Washington’s. But I think these moments are there to keep you interested, not invested. I think a large amount of the character focused elements are being saved for films to come, and the moments of character we see in Tenet are the building blocks for these relationships to grow and develop in later instalments in this world. I think the performances all around are brilliant. Washington once again proves his talent worthy to be at the very top. Pattinson is a joy to watch, Debicki is really great, Kenneth Branagh is great as the sinister villain, and the supporting actors throughout the film all meet the bar set by the leads. Hopefully Nolan does make more films in this world because I would definitely like to see these actors play these characters again and build on the relationships that started in Tenet.
This film is so, so very big. BIG. It hits you straight from the opening scene and does not stop. This is, obviously, the film’s biggest success; the sheer scale, size and audacity of this film is almost immeasurable. Nolan is really showing off the extent of, pretty much entirely practical, cinema, and boy does he do it well. Some of the set pieces are astonishing; huge, practical set pieces that mix forward and backward time streams make you just sit there with your eyes and mouth wide open. Remember that plane crash that is in the trailer? Yeah, apparently they actually did that. There is something so satisfying about watching action films with practical stunts and effects, and I’d say the entire film is pretty damn satisfying. It can, however, be a little hard to follow. Somewhat expected given that it is a Nolan film. Somewhere halfway through the film, especially on second viewing, I definitely noticed a moment that made me think ‘ok now I’ve really got to be paying attention’. But, once again, it is a Nolan film. If you aren’t expecting to be somewhat confused for a good length of time then what did you expect? I’d say that, to enjoy it as much as possible, don’t try and actively figure it out; keep your head switched on but let the film just roll over you, as it is meant to. It is meant to floor you, so let it. And that score! Wow. Ludwig Göransson absolutely kills it with a suspenseful score that keeps you tense throughout. From a practical filmmaking point of view, I think it is marvellous. The editing is great, the directing is brilliant and it is shot beautifully; I think all the action set pieces are fantastic and intricate and just a joy to watch.
I really, really enjoyed this film. Both times I saw it. I think it’s a spectacle of a film and one of the best action films I’ve seen in a long time. Everyone is great, the ideas behind it are fascinating and Nolan puts every single penny of that £205 million budget to great use. Would it have been nice to see some character? Maybe. Does it make the film worse? I don’t think so to be honest. I think this film is meant to be a big action film with some really nice character moments and nothing more. And if that’s the criteria, it passes with flying colours. Definitely go watch it because it is a hell of a ride.
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