Tenet-2020

Director Christopher Nolan

Starring John David Washington, Robert Pattinson

Scott’s Review #1,149

Reviewed June 4, 2021

Grade: C

For those film lovers craving a plot that serves as a weaving puzzle that can never be figured out, Tenet (2020) is highly recommended. Others who desire a more defined and linear story and character development will be disappointed by the film.

Tenet is a visuals-only experience as I tuned in and out of the actual plot points after realizing they intersect past, present, and future elements.

I did try from the outset to understand, but ended up falling flat.

One’s enjoyment will depend on one’s cinematic desires and expectations.

I lean more towards a compelling story with excellent acting and a strong emotional connection to the project. I’m not as focused on brilliant CGI or dazzling visuals as some, but I recognize that Tenet has these elements.

However, I’m not sure I agree with the film’s Oscar win for Best Visual Effects or nomination for Best Production Design- thank goodness the terrific Mank (2020) won the latter award.

I’ll try to summarize the plot.

A secret agent named the Protagonist (John David Washington) embarks on a dangerous, time-bending mission to prevent the start of World War III.

The villainous Andrei Sator (Kenneth Branagh) is a Russian oligarch who communicates with the future and is intent on destroying the world. His wife, Kat Barton (Elizabeth Debicki), despises her husband and aligns with the Protagonist to stop him. They fall in love.

Along for the ride are an arms dealer, Priya Singh (Dimple Kapadia), and Robert Pattinson plays the Protagonist’s handler who may or may not be trusted.

Let’s start with the positives.

Tenet gets off to a terrific start with a scene at the Kyiv opera house in Ukraine. Though silly, the invasion of the theater and the massive sleeping effect of the theater attendees and performers is like a domino effect. The scene is fast and exciting.

Later, a daring car chase featuring a car speeding down a highway in reverse gear is pretty exciting. Add a character bound and tied in the passenger seat with no driver and no way to get out, which provides an incredible James Bond moment.

Another positive is the luscious locales like Estonia, Oslo, Norway, London, and the Amalfi coast.

That’s where the fun ends.

I have to admit that I expected more from Christopher Nolan, who wrote and directed the project. The man has churned out superlative efforts like The Dark Knight (2008) and Dunkirk (2017), but Tenet will not rank among his finest moments.

To that end, it’s a Nolan film. Sound and visuals are his trademarks, and the bombastic, booming score is tight and familiar. The mixing of loud, techy, thundering beats is commonplace, but sadly does little for the film. They almost become annoying.

The cast is seasoned and capable. With Washington, Pattinson, Branaugh, and Debicki onboard, there is a talent to be found. Even Michael Caine is cast in one wasteful scene.

Nonetheless, the actors drift through their scenes looking perplexed and stiff. Probably because they didn’t know what the hell was going on in the scenes.

Just like the viewer.

The dialogue is an issue because it’s not written well. Why would Kat want to kill a man who is already dying of terminal cancer? Why not wait out his demise? And the time travel was lost on me from the first sequence. I didn’t care.

The most laugh-out-loud line occurs when Kat exclaims to the Protagonist, “I just knew you’d have a backup plan. Wait, you do have a backup plan, right?” With juicy dialogue like this, it’s a wonder Tenet didn’t receive a Best Screenplay nomination. I jest, of course.

Minor details, such as the Protagonist and Kat having zero chemistry, despite the interracial romance having so much potential, are disappointing.

I can’t say I’d recommend Tenet (2020), but I can provide details of what you can expect from the experience. Some incredible visual moments can’t overcome the lack of any storyline, and the viewer will become lost in the tired moments.

By the final sequence, I thought I had watched a generic episode of a network television series like NCIS.

Ouch.

Oscar Nominations: 1 win-Best Visual Effects (won), Best Production Design