An ambitious and revolutionary director, Christopher Nolan is no stranger to the kind out-of-the-box thinking that elevates your typical action film into a ground-breaking blockbuster- and, although it’s no ‘Inception’ , the action fuelled, mind boggling ‘Tenet’ is an unrelenting and fulfilling reminder of the pure scale and extent of an excellent cinematic experience.
Stylish shots and slick action sequences as well as a standout, stunning score tie the whole thing together to create the immense and seemingly limitless world of Tenet, which follows a CIA agent simply named ‘The Protagonist’ (John David Washington) as he works to prevent World War Three. It is, at its heart, a globe- travelling, chaos-causing, bond-esque spy film – but when it comes to Nolan, nothing is to be taken at face value. Trading in the overused clichés to create a threat so large out of something thought to be so well understood - Nolan’s one true cinematic love: Time.
Time is a huge factor in so many of Nolan’s films. From Memento to Interstellar, Dunkirk to Inception: it’s clear this is a notion he loves to tangle with – and Tenet only takes that to a whole other level. Twisting the way we think about time and physics entirely, the ambitious plot is unlike anything I’ve ever seen presented on screen before. At times its fast-paced nature can be too much whilst trying to keep up with such a complex concept, but to quote some wisdom passed down to The Protagonist – “Don’t try to understand it, just feel it.” – and that is the way Tenet is best enjoyed.
Backwards car chases, bungee jumping up buildings and a huge fiery plane crashes, undoubtably Nolan’s vision will not be compromised. The sheer sense of power that Tenet radiates bursts right off the silver screen with every single word, punch and piece of music. It has its complexity and complications, sure, but it’s all worth it for those moments where the penny drops and it all clicks into place with a singular word, action or shot. With incredible performances all round from the likes of Robert Pattinson, Kenneth Branagh and Elizabeth Debicki - ‘Tenet’ is an action film like no other, and a crucial message in a time that so desperately needs it of just how stunning and remarkable film can be.
‘TENET’ IS IN CINEMAS NOW
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