Clémence Poésy's character was right: "Don't try to understand it." That might be your first mistake upon watching Christopher Nolan's newest film Tenet, as the director's trademark usage of time and physics gets probably the most confusing treatment of all. This film is a wonderful and exciting addition to his filmography and one which contains every element that makes a Nolan film a Nolan film. Whether that be for better or worse depending on personal opinion, there is no denying how much fun it is to watch one of his movies. From the solid performances to the mind-bending script, this movie is an excellent action-thriller that continues to prove how masterful of a filmmaker he is for someone who acts like he can control reality itself. One thing I can also confidently say is that if Americans feel safe enough to go back to the movies (granted theaters are taking correct precautions), this is the one to signal their triumphant return.
A man known only as The Protagonist (John David Washington) is assigned to help take down a nuclear arms dealer named Andrei Sator (Kenneth Branagh) but runs into trouble when he stumbles into the "new" technology of inverted entropy. Partnering up with an agent named Neil (Robert Pattinson) and Sator's wife Kat (Elizabeth Debicki), they must literally race against the clock to stop the annihilation of reality. A plot that sounds as high-stakes and borderline ridiculous as this could only be written by Christopher Nolan himself and his script for this film is beyond compelling. There are so many fantastic aspects that make it quite trademark of his own style but a lot more that left me thinking I was smarter than I actually am. The characters in this film are written incredibly well and each stands out on their own with a brilliant amount of poise. Not only do they wear the cleanest suits in the world but from the very first scene, it is obvious how motivated they all are and where their intentions lie. Good guys and bad guys make themselves very clear in predictable ways but that is to be expected from Nolan and of a film that falls into this espionage genre. Nolan also writes this spy thriller in such a creative way that makes it stand out from the rest of any other, forgettable spy franchise. The inclusion of the inverted entropy theme riddles Tenet in all its action set pieces and it does so very well. I might not have always understood the logic behind some of the film's plot twists and reasoning but as long as you don't try too hard to make sense of Nolan's mind, there is so much enjoyment to be had. My only issue with his writing is how he dumps exposition throughout the movie like a video game cutscene. The dialogue itself is hard enough to understand because of its scientific complexity but it is given to the audience in ten-minute chunks where I was left wondering what the characters' new goal was. These scenes are interspersed into the action sequences so awkwardly that it left his direction feeling a bit disjointed. It was not necessarily overwhelming but I would have much preferred Nolan's direction if he focused on blending these scenes together more effectively.
This revered director's script might not be the most easily understandable story in the world but he brings along his expected technical prowess to this film to make it just as entertaining as one would expect. The score, performances, and cinematography all work in harmony to elevate this film into being one of the greatest action films of the past few years. Washington, Pattinson, and Debicki are all stupendous in their roles and they carry such undeniable screen chemistry. Pattinson is fantastic in his supporting role, Debicki nails the troubled wife archetype that has come to be expected from Nolan's script, and Washington steals the show, further intensifying his massive star power. Washington is one of the greatest rising actors of today and the fact that a huge film like this could be one to bring him into the public eye, even more, is phenomenal. He has well past proven his worth as a star and I can't wait to see what he does in his coming roles and the varied energy he could bring to them. The cinematography from Hoyte Van Hoytema is captivating and he shoots every scene with an exceptional eye, especially the high-octane action that fuels this story. A magnificent combination of steady and handheld camera makes each scene so unique, to the point where I couldn't keep my eyes off the screen. Ludwig Göransson's score throughout this movie genuinely surprised me, as it is a bit of a departure from Hans Zimmer, who typically collaborates with Nolan. I found Göransson's score to be one of the best parts, however, and it really grounds this movie and its action together in some beautifully harmonic ways (with plenty of bass, of course). This movie might not have as much emotion as Nolan's other works, such as my favorite Interstellar, but it still carries enough qualities of a groundbreaking action film to be incredibly exhilarating. These cinematic elements all play together just as everyone had expected, though, and because of the filmmaking from mind-freak Christopher Nolan, Tenet will undoubtedly fuck with your mind; whether or not you let the mind-boggling plot affect your enjoyment of the film is up to you.
Tenet might be one of Nolan's weaker films but even by comparison, it is still absolutely fantastic. The incredibly unique action set pieces, performances, and score all work together to make this highly anticipated movie that much more memorable. Going into this film knowing exactly what kind of movie Nolan would be delivering us was probably my smartest choice and although it is far from my favorite of his, it still proves to be one of the most original blockbusters of the year. I'm not nearly big-brained enough to understand his thought process in this film but that's okay. Now excuse me while I go take half a bottle of aspirin.
My Rating: ★★★★
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