Tenet Movie Review (2020)
A science-fiction spy thriller about an operative attempting to stop a global disaster by unraveling the mysteries of time inversion, Tenet is packed with inventive ideas and impressive visual effects, but spends so much time showing off the brilliance of its concept that its emotional investment takes a back seat.
After watching The Odyssey last month, I started thinking about other Christopher Nolan films. I am a huge fan of The Prestige and I liked Inception a lot, but I’ve never gotten around to watching Tenet. I heard the rumblings when it was first released, and reviews were heavily mixed. That didn’t detour me, necessarily, but it did put the movie somewhere in the middle of my list of hundreds of films I wanted to see. After The Odyssey, though, my son mentioned it again, having watched it himself, and suggested that I give it a whirl.
Tenet is about a CIA operative who, after proving his worth, leads a covert operation to stop WWIII with the word “tenet” as his weapon. Learning that his fight will take place in the past, present, and future as well as with inversion of movements and items that break the laws of nature as we know it, he pairs up with his handler, Neil, and begins to unravel the mysteries of the universe in which he lives to accomplish his goal.
I liked Tenet, and it got more enjoyable the longer I watched, but I completely understand why it got such a divisive reception. Tenet is the kind of film that asks a lot of the audience, never spoon-feeds you, and requires a lot of work on your end just to keep up. It also feels like Nolan is saying, “look how smart me and my friends are and look what we can do” a little more than one might like. It is highfalutin and cerebral without ever giving you a break.
That said, I am impressed, and I am glad I watched it. The first hour and a half of the film is set up. It’s interesting and detached, feeding you information that you add to your own personal puzzle-box as you try to arrange the picture on the front. It is intellectually demanding and a little tedious, but if you keep trying to buy in, it’s captivating enough.
The last 50 minutes are the best part of the narrative. It is where everything begins to come together and the complex web you’ve been watching works towards a payoff. Because of how Nolan writes and directs his films and the high-concept that exists in this one, I wasn’t convinced that a payoff would be coming, but it does. Hang in there.
The effects are mesmerizing and ambitious. For much of the movie, things work backward. Fight scenes look odd and movements awkward because they aren’t moving in reverse – they are creating a scenario that has happened and is happening at the same moment. Plus, watching the explosions occur backwards and buildings coming back together can be breathtaking.
As with Nolan films in general, the voices are soft, and the explosions are loud, and there is a typical emotional distance between you and the characters. You know nothing about them and any connection you might be looking for is absent. But this is the same situation as The Odyssey, so it should be no surprise.
Overall, though, Tenet is meticulously crafted to be something that I imagine Nolan had in his mind all along. It’s hugely inventive and unlike any other film out there, so be prepared for a new experience. And make sure you are wide awake when you press play. You’ll need all of the energy you can get for the mind-bending ride.
Runtime: 150 minutes
Motion Picture Rating: PG-13
Languages Spoken In The Film: English
Should You Watch It? Yes
Did I Cry? Nope
My Rating: 3.75/5 Stars
Available: To rent on Prime Video or may be available for free on other streaming platforms
