Tenet (2020)

Tenet is Christopher Nolan’s latest attempt to bend our minds with his bold storytelling and patently unique manipulation of time. Throw away any preconceived notions you have about this movie because I promise it’s unlike anything you’ve ever seen! Let’s consider the pros and cons of Tenet…

Pros: Christopher Nolan is a visual storyteller and nowhere is that more apparent than in this movie. The precision with which he directs and structures Tenet shows a meticulous confidence that I appreciate as a viewer. Although the story is confusing at times, Nolan pieces it together in an oddly satisfying way that rewards repeat viewings. Equally enjoyable are Tenet’s intertwined themes of inversion and accepting one’s fate. By the end of the movie, both the Protagonist and his handler, played by John David Washington and Robert Pattinson respectively, have traveled backwards through time, sometimes even coming into contact with their unsuspecting past selves. It is when the Protagonist begins to look at the world differently and understand that destiny is what’s propelling him forward, that this movie unquestionably fulfills it’s potential.

Cons: There are moments that benefit from the punctuating score, but there are also scenes that suffer from the intense noise level. With Tenet’s already complex and scattered storyline, not being able to hear crucial lines of dialogue is frustrating to say the least. Subtitles are an easy fix for this flaw, but it’s disappointing they’re needed at all. Lastly, I think this movie tries to do too much in too short an amount of time. Yes it’s 2.5 hours long, but there are a lot of moving parts and almost no breaks in-between beats. This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone familiar with Nolan’s work, but it’s still worth mentioning. All in all, these cons hardly detract from the overall impressiveness of this movie.

I give Tenet an A-. It’s an action packed sci-fi thriller that is sure to wow you with it’s high concept premise and stunning visuals. Subtitles are not required, but highly recommended. Happy Watching!

“What’s happened, happened.”