Logan Sork Film Reviews
TENET
Rarely do I need to see a movie twice to understand it. Usually, I’ll get everything the first time around and only return for the sake of noticing the small little details I hadn’t seen before. This, however, was not the way I experienced TENET. Upon leaving the theater for the first time, I was very confused and somewhat disappointed by Christopher Nolan’s latest film. It felt like he had finally gotten too caught up in his own head. Upon re-watching it for a second time, however, my attitude has almost completely changed. I can see now what Nolan was trying to do and appreciate this film, flaws and all. Others who watch the film for the first time, however, might not be open to the idea of returning as I was.
TENET is written and directed by Christopher Nolan and stars John-David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki, Dimple Kapadia, Michael Caine, and Kenneth Branagh. The film follows a secret agent (Washington) who, after seemingly killing himself, is inducted into a secret organization known as TENET. Through the organization, he learns of objects that have been “inverted”, meaning that they travel against the normal flow of time. His mission is to prevent a Russian Nationalist (Branagh) from starting World War III. Along the way, he encounters allies and enemies from all places and learns that what he has been told, is not all that it seems.
Since Christopher Nolan has become such a household name when it comes to excellent technical filmmaking, it’s no surprise that Nolan yet again delivers a technical spectacle. Everything about the film is larger than life yet somehow believable thanks to Nolan’s ability to capture wildly large action sequences without the use of much greenscreen. The artists assisting Nolan on the technical side also play a huge role in making the film as great as it is. Cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema creates some truly visceral images that help give the film a distinct sense of style. The stunt team also plays a huge role in making the film as unique as it is, choreographing set pieces that feel unlike anything I’ve seen before. And while it is disappointing that frequent collaborator Hans Zimmer was unable to provide the score for the film, Ludwig Goransson is more than able to fill his shoes with an equally impressive musical score.
The actors in the film also help the film tremendously, with each turning in a unique performance that brings a different flair of energy. John-David Washington is excellent as the film’s protagonist, turning in a smooth, stylish, bond-like performance that brings real charm. He is also an excellent physical performer, carrying the film’s complex action sequences and stunts with ease. Also excellent is Robert Pattinson as his partner, Neil, who is also very charming and brings an air of mystery to the character. Kenneth Branagh is suitably over the top as the villainous Andrei Sator, whose performance can range from cheesy to terrifying depending on who you ask. Elizabeth Debicki also shines as Sator’s wife, Kat, who serves as the emotional core of the story while also holding her own. All in all, the performances that Nolan gets from these talented actors are top tier.
However, the same cannot be said for the characters they play. Aside from Debicki’s Kat, there really wasn’t a character I felt an emotional connection to. Sure, the other characters were fun to be around, but there wasn’t that human connection I felt with Nolan’s other films. While this is certainly not the first Nolan film to feature a bold, outside the box concept, his other films usually have a somewhat relatable protagonist who the audience gets to learn more about as the film progresses. Here, the protagonist doesn’t even have a name, which is yet another barrier that Nolan puts up that makes the film less accessible to people. This is most certainly a plot over character film and while I am usually not opposed to that, I just wished that Nolan had shared a little more about his characters to get me to care just a little more.
This emphasis on plot and concept over character is both the film’s greatest strength and biggest weakness. Once again, Nolan merges two established genres (spy-thriller and time travel) to create something truly unique. This is not the first time he’s done this, but I think he has done it a lot better in other outings. With most of his other films, Nolan usually mixes a complex idea with a relatively simple genre (i.e heist and dreams Inception). But with the spy-thriller genre, it can get complicated real fast as it deals with detailed character relationships, McGuffins, and other ideas before you even add in the time-travel aspect to it. This mixing of two concept pieces was rather off-putting, with large portions of the film being dedicated to complex expository dialogue that were at times hard to hear and understand. Watching this for the first time is like trying to assemble a puzzle, only to have more pieces thrown at you as time goes on.
I emphasize the phrase “first time” because upon second viewing, things improve dramatically for the film. By having prior knowledge as to what the film is about and its complicated ideas, you start to appreciate just how excellent this movie is. The concept of inversion makes for some truly breathtaking action sequences and unique moments. It also has some interesting things to say on the way the past, present, and future work together in relationship to the world around us. Once you break through its outer layer of complicated exposition and imposing ideas, you start to notice the little details and see the bigger picture. This familiarity results in a much more relaxed and enjoyable experience that will have you leave appreciating the film rather than being confused by it.
TENET is by no means one of Christopher Nolan’s best films, but that doesn’t mean it’s bad. Upon first viewing, I was put off by the overly complex dialogue and exposition, disconnected characters, and confusing plot and ideas. However, after seeing it a second time I appreciated its themes, great performances, and excellent technical elements. This is a film that really makes you think for the better and is a lot better and more creative than most action tentpoles being released today. However, I worry that many will not appreciate the film after seeing it, but please do try and watch it at least twice. You might end up looking at it with a different perspective just as I did.
8.5/10