Tenet – An Epic Action Spectacle (Early Review)

Christopher Nolan’s long awaited time inversion project is finally here as Tenet was the film that was set to save cinemas in this now post COVID world. Though he may put himself on a somewhat of a high pedestal from time to time, the film truly showcases Nolan’s capability to create epic adventures and we thankfully haven’t seen the last from him. As Nolan has kept the plot of this film under a crazy level of secrecy for quite sometime now, it’s best to go into this film as blindly as possible.

What can be said about Tenet is that it follows a man, known as The Protagonist (Washington), armed with only one word, Tenet, as he fights for the survival of the entire world. There is a lot to delve into. For starters, the performances all around were absolutely amazing. Washington’s dedicated performance as The Protagonist saw him truly shine. Meanwhile, Pattinson absolutely crushes it as Neil, the partner to The Protagonist, showing that he could genuinely hold his own in an action setting (further hyping for his upcoming performance as Batman). Debicki and Aaron Taylor Johnson are also a delight to see in supporting roles as Kat and Ives, however, Kenneth Branagh as Andrei Sator will surprise audiences as he brings his Shakespearean energy to this epic adventure.

Tenet‘s action sequences are engrossing and almost non-stop to the point that one could tell how Nolan must have had a blast creating them. They simply do not let up as the next builds upon the last. Their grand scale and versatility means that there is never a dull moment. Nolan’s stylistic direction of the action are truly a sight to be seen. Especially in the beautifully choreographed sequences that muster up such a level of intensity that is sure to leave audiences on the edge of their seats. The cinematography is absolutely perfect while the vibrant colour choices that fluctuate throughout the film create a unique vibe unlike Nolan’s past films. As an aside, if one has the opportunity to view the 70mm IMAX print, it truly adds a level of wow and immersiveness to the film unlike any in recent memory. The film also sees Ludwig Göransson also delivers one of his best scores ever. Every song is grand, and epic, contributing to the film’s epic scale and furthering the excitement.

When it comes to Tenet, however, there are still certain aspects that are sure to divide audiences. The film is non stop. From the instant the opening credits hit to the end credits begin to roll, audiences are bombarded with exposition, barely giving the opportunity to breathe and absorb what is happening. While Inception was more a style over substance film, some may find this film’s fast pace overbearing. With a considerably long runtime, clocking in at 2.5 hours, there was certainly room for some refinements as far as the script was concerned but its arguable over dependence on some plot elements could be seen as too much. Hopefully the future will see Nolan find a better balance.

While the film is hard to talk about without giving too much away, Tenet is truly a next level motion picture that must be seen to understand. Although it does have issues that may be contentious for some audiences, it is still safe to say that the film is on its way to be one of the biggest films of the year.

still courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

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Jaeden Noel