Tenet Movie Review

 “We live in a twilight world.” - The Protagonist

       Tenet is the latest film from legendary director Christopher Nolan.  It stars John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Kenneth Branagh, Michael Caine, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Elizabeth Debicki.  The film tells the complicated story of a man known simply as the Protagonist, as he and a group of others attempt to stop a Russian oligarch from destroying the world using a process known as inversion.  From there, the characters are led to different locations across the globe as they grapple with enemies both in the future and the past.

Tenet was one of my most anticipated films of this year.  It was supposed to release over the summer, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was delayed multiple times.  I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to see the film in a theater setting as opposed to watching it at home like so many other people have been doing for films that were supposed to have a theatrical release this year.  Movies like Tenet were made to be seen on the biggest screens with the loudest speakers.  This film is an exhilarating experience from start to finish.

This very well may be my favorite time travel movie, second only to Terry Gilliam’s 12 Monkeys.  The concept is intelligent and inventive, and it is executed in a way that is both very challenging, but also oddly accessible. Like lots of other Nolan films, Tenet values plot over character development.  Normally I would find fault for this, but it works brilliantly here.  With Tenet, Nolan shows yet again that he can make an investing film while also not focusing much on the backstories of characters.

The acting is top-notch, and Kenneth Branagh stands apart from the rest in his expert portrayal of the film’s villain.  The cinematography and color grading are beautiful, and so is the scenery.  The stunts and practical effects are beyond spectacular.  The action set pieces are just as mind-boggling as the ones displayed in Bond films such as Casino Royale or Skyfall.  Another thing I find worthy of praise is the score by Ludwig Göransson.  This gentleman won an Oscar for his work on Black Panther, and now he has crafted what may be my favorite score this year so far.  Elements of the score sound as if they are reversed, which is very fitting considering the subject of the movie.

I didn’t find many things about Tenet that bugged me.  A lot of people have been criticizing the film’s sound mixing.  I didn’t have a problem with it personally.  The only issues I had with the film on first viewing had to do with understanding the story.  The film can be quite confusing at times, and if you aren’t paying close attention, you could miss certain things along the way.  I’m sure this is something that multiple rewatches will fix for me.

Tenet is the sort of movie that you will love if you enjoy films that make you think.  If you want to immediately understand a film without having to think hard about it, Tenet might not be for you.  I, however, had a blast with it, and if you like sci-fi action movies that require a sharp mind to watch, I think you will too.  

Rating: PG-13

Grade: A-