A Brief Review: Tenet

Welcome back to ‘A Brief Review’ a series of brief reviews on films from the present day and all the way back in time. Hoping to filter through the commotion and give some decent reviews of some rather decent films.

Christopher Nolan adds to his mind bending and hugely impressive CV with Tenet, a film that I can only call a cinematic spectacle unlike anything you have seen before. People are calling it ‘James Bond on Acid’ and I can definitely get on board with that idea! In all seriousness though, Christopher Nolan pulled out all of the stops for this movie and may have just re-invented the way we think about time, film, and everything in between. 


With shades of inception due to its lack of a linear structure and entrance into a separate inverted time zone, Tenet appears completely mind boggling for large portions of the film until it all clicks together in the most Christopher Nolan way possible. Ground-breaking action, unique fight scenes and breathtaking explosions without a single piece of CGI used leaves you immersed in the world that is Tenet without even thinking about leaving at any moment, well until Nolan decides it’s time to let you go. Tenet is a display of what is possible in the world of cinema in the current time, and this is only the beginning.

John David Washington who should undoubtedly be Oscar nominated for Tenet, is the magnificent ‘protagonist’ who leads the ensemble of the operatives on a secret global assignment to prevent world war 3 at the hands of the terrifying Andrei Sator, played by the brilliant Kenneth Branagh. The whole cast work so powerfully well together. It's clear that each character has something to say, with a special role within the realms of Tenet.

I just wish Nolan had used his moments slightly better to develop these characters. Maybe I am just being slow, but it seemed like the film was so focused on being efficient with its dialogue that it was missing key story points for the sake of getting the film down to 2 hours, 30 minutes. However, I understand this may feel a tad picky and I am sure a second viewing will do the world of good for any issues understanding the full plot.

The supporting cast, most notably Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki and Himesh Patel all anchothe film brilliantly with charm, intelligence, and class. Nolan certainly delivered once again. Engaging, probing, slightly confusing, fun, energetic, complex, and unique these are the words that spring to mind without any organisation after seeing Tenet and for me, that is exactly what good cinema should be about. So, I think it’s best if I go and watch it again as soon as possible!

Tenet is a spectacle and an amazing one at that! It was a brilliant experience overall and one that is best seen at the cinema. So, go out and support your local cinema, they need you more than ever at this present time!

My Rating: 8.4/10


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