Released: 26th August 2020 (UK)
Length: 150 Minutes
Certificate: 12
Director: Christopher Nolan
Starring: John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, ELizabeth Debicki, Dimple Kapadia and Kenneth Branagh
As one of few movie-making auteurs to generate massive interest on name alone, Christopher Nolan’s Tenet is being tipped to revive cinema following its shutdown in the current crisis. What we get in his latest project is another mind-bending story that continues his flair for intellectually charged creations.
Tenet follows a character simply known as The Protagonist (John David Washington), a spy of low affiliation who must prevent World War Three by bending and altering time to his advantage. The fluctuation of events involving nuclear weapons and chain reactions is set to cause a worldwide collapse and he sets out to locate crucial resources with fellow operative and handler Neil (Robert Pattinson) offering assistance. The production throws its audience straight in with a raid on a Ukrainian Opera House and unfolds across a number of specific locations. One-part spy drama and another close to a heist thriller, Tenet’s fast-paced narrative is constantly moving, condensing its transitions down and regularly swapping between base discussions and barrelling action. It’s not as layered as Inception was a decade ago but it still requires some high mental finesse to follow along. The latter half flips things on their head, as protagonist engages with advanced tactics that rewrite the rules of cause and effect. For the most part, it’s a very inventive and successful spin on the action, even if the final act felt rather rushed. It speeds through its setup quickly before plunging the audience into a two-pronged military assault. With separate timelines running alongside each other, it can be tricky to discern the direction and reason behind both sides, making the conclusion less impactful.
Matching the serious tone of the story, Tenet’s characters do a fine job of gripping the audience. Leading man John David Washington delivers a stoic yet determined demeanour; yet he also feels a responsibility towards others, enhancing the immediacy of his mission. Elizabeth Debicki is equally good as Kat; dealing with the trauma of domestic abuse, she grows stronger throughout the piece, working alongside the other characters and standing up to her oppressors. Kenneth Branagh’s Andrei Sator makes for a ruthless villain confident in his high status and wealth. While there isn’t too much depth to him as an antagonist, his actions remain suitably sinister whenever he’s on screen. The only major weak link in Tenet is Nick, whose background is rarely elaborated on. Robert Pattinson’s performance is measured and authentic, but his involvement in the plot shifts back and forth throughout the proceedings. He does play a greater role in the final moments but early on, his character feels like a missed opportunity in places. While we don’t learn all that much about the participants, every member of the cast firmly embraces the story and throws themselves into the action sequences.
Just like every one of his previous flicks, Christopher’s staunch commitment to filmmaking on ground level makes Tenet another superb visual marvel. Its diverse set of action sequences are once again achieved in camera and are all equally thrilling to watch. Armed assaults, convoy hijackings and using an aircraft as a battering ram all hit home as the Protagonist races to complete his objectives. The hand-to-hand fights feel far more visceral this time around; compact yet highly impactful when Washington starts trading blows with his assailants. What’s most impressive about the heated moments is how they’re reversed and played backwards with an incredibly clever effect, feeding in directly with the plot. By covering scenes from multiple angles, we bear witness to the production’s primary hook. The filmmakers took a break from Hans Zimmer and went with Ludwig Göransson for the score; while it does seem a little similar to the former, the music remains a rousing piece of the presentation, powering up the tension while the characters are on the move. As a collective whole, Tenet is every bit as detailed as its predecessors.
Tenet has some issues with plot pacing and a weaker character here and there, but still creates a mind-bending tale that will please most audiences. It may not be Nolan’s finest work, but it’s still a solid production that will compel you to return to movie theatres.
Rating: 4/5 Stars (Great)
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