In this review, I will give a brief overview of Tenet’s plot, staying away from spoilers. At the end, I will rate Tenet with a score out of 10.
Up until the release of TENET, movie executives at Warner Brothers pressured TENET’s director Christopher Nolan to postpone the release of Tenet to 2021 or make the movie available for rent on streaming sites. Nolan refused. He said he wanted TENET to be “the rebirth of cinema” after the coronavirus pandemic. Nolan’s boldness in releasing his movie in an unstable and uncertain situation was a huge risk, and one that may not have paid off as inaccessibility to movie theaters and risk of coronavirus has prevented TENET from making financial headway. TENET is the first blockbuster to release amid the coronavirus which is evidence of Nolan’s faith in his own product and his belief that it could single-handedly bring masses back to the movie theaters.
TENET is a unique and original event, and like many of Nolan’s films, it receives its strength from captivating the audience with spectacle and thought-provoking commentary. The movie revolves around the journey of a nameless protagonist played by John David Washington, who is thrust into a new life with a mission to prevent the total annihilation of the world. His tool on this journey is a word — “TENET.” This word leads the protagonist further to the truth as he discovers a plot from the future to destroy the past. The synopsis of TENET is entirely dramatic, similar to that of a James Bond spy film, but is set apart by its time-traveling mechanic inversion. Inversion is the process in which a person or object moves backwards in time. An inverted object will move backwards in time but from its own perspective, it will be moving forward while the world around them is moving backwards. Nolan pushes this mechanic to its limits with hand to hand combat, car chases, and militaristic assaults happening on-screen between inverted and non-inverted objects, providing a never before seen spectacle. The action is all well done, all of it is unique and a treat to watch.
The cast of TENET provides incredible performances to this movie, bringing this unconventional and irregular plot to life. John David Washington as “the protagonist” and Robert Pattinson as Neil, both provide breakout performances. Likewise, Kenneth Branagh, the villain Satoe, brings an egotistical and rage-filled personality to his role. Although his master plan and personality can initially be perceived as your cliché James Bond villain, his insidious personality becomes realistic and believable through the torture and sorrow he levies on his wife. His wife Kat, actress Elizabeth Debiki, is bound and held hostage in her marriage with Sator for fear of blackmail and the safety of her son because of previous mistakes and infidelity. Her husband Sator could easily punish and dispose of her but keeps her as a form of torture, and as he puts it, “ If I can’t have you, no one can.” The husband and wife’s hostile and cruel relationship is a symbol of Sator’s cold heart and selfish nature, making him a deeper and more complex character than the average antagonist.
The score of TENET composed by Ludwig Göransson is phenomenal. Göransson uses a deep and bold synth score that allows you to feel the tension and pressure through building pulses that move and grow as action in the movie heightens. Most of Nolan’s previous movies have been composed by Hans Zimmer, who has worked on films such as Pirates of the Caribbean, Lion King, and The Dark Knight trilogy. Many fans were shocked that he would not be returning to compose TENET’s score. But Goransson’s score not only succeeds in filling Zimmer’s shoes but adds a unique sense of vitality and youth that was absent in Nolan’s previous movies, signifying the more sleek and confident tone of the movie.
TENET is not a masterpiece and is nowhere near Nolan’s best film, but it can stand next to Nolan’s previous movies without looking out of place. Despite TENET’s captivating spectacle and innovative, original design, the film is weighed down from basic and simple flaws. For one, the editing in the film is fast and quick as the movie cuts from shots between different locations with quick succession, and scenes are given little room to exist, preventing the scene’s plot and themes to breathe. The quick edits along with the confusing and dense plot lead to the movie being inaccessible and overwhelming for some audiences. The movie does benefit from multiple watches. I viewed the movie twice and enjoyed the film much more on my second watching as I got to appreciate the movie on a greater level because I was able to focus my attention on the finer details and nuances of the movie. This can leave initial viewers with a sour taste after watching the film because the film demands that you focus and pay attention to scenes, or you will easily become lost and frustrated with the movie. This is a double-edged sword as moviegoers who see TENET multiple times will have a greater understanding and a deeper connection to the film, making them appreciate it more than a typical summer blockbuster, while casual audience members who may not want to watch it again will leave feeling discouraged and confused.
Unfortunately, TENET lacks a strong emotional connection unlike most of Nolan’s other work. The only character that grows and has a legitimate character arc is Sator’s wife Kat, who gains confidence and freedom after being repressed and brutalized by her husband for so long. Kat’s journey to free herself and her son becomes the heart of the film, but the emotional payoff is weak due to a lack of screentime with Kat and her son.
TENET is not a perfect movie, but through bold, artistic choices and ideas, it sets itself apart from other movies as a unique film that everyone should watch at least once in their lives. By creating such an ambitious movie aimed to elevate and innovate, it can leave some confused, but there isn’t any progress without loss and no success without sacrifice.
Overall, TENET offers an original and entertaining story in a lackluster year for movies, making it an unforgettable experience.
I score TENET an 8.25/10
