After months without going to the theaters, what a treat!
Tenet is the best of what cinema has to give, with dazzling action scenes and the kind of mind-bending concept that only Nolan is crazy enough to deliver. Set in the cold, confusing world of high-stakes espionage, the movie is tighter, more controlled than Inception. The central concept allows much less freedom than Inception's "dream sharing" did, but that's precisely the limitations that make it so exhilarating and satisfying to watch.
The policy is "no hand holding here". We're sharing the view of the Protagonist spy, and have to figure out what's happening with as few clues as he gets. Active viewing is required to connect the dots. It would be bad if every movie was like that, but from time to time it's a refreshing change.
Tenet is a very intense experience from first minute to last with little breathing room, efficiently highlighted by a pervasive soundtrack. It should delight all fans of Nolan's no-nonsense hard sci-fi style. And personally, it's my new favorite Nolan movie.
So, why 5/10?
The sound in my theater was ridiculously loud. Other reviewers have reported the same experience, which leads me to believe that the culprit is the movie, not the theater. The voices are way quieter than the rest, which forces projectionists to choose between damaging people's ears and leaving half the dialogues inaudible. I've noticed that a lot of critics who pan the movie complain about not hearing the dialogues. It's easy to understand how frustrated one would be in a movie where every line can hold a key plot element.
For a high-budget movie by a veteran director, there is simply no excuse. It's entirely on the movie for failing such a critical element.
Even the best movie isn't worth getting hearing damage, hence 5/10.
Tenet is the best of what cinema has to give, with dazzling action scenes and the kind of mind-bending concept that only Nolan is crazy enough to deliver. Set in the cold, confusing world of high-stakes espionage, the movie is tighter, more controlled than Inception. The central concept allows much less freedom than Inception's "dream sharing" did, but that's precisely the limitations that make it so exhilarating and satisfying to watch.
The policy is "no hand holding here". We're sharing the view of the Protagonist spy, and have to figure out what's happening with as few clues as he gets. Active viewing is required to connect the dots. It would be bad if every movie was like that, but from time to time it's a refreshing change.
Tenet is a very intense experience from first minute to last with little breathing room, efficiently highlighted by a pervasive soundtrack. It should delight all fans of Nolan's no-nonsense hard sci-fi style. And personally, it's my new favorite Nolan movie.
So, why 5/10?
The sound in my theater was ridiculously loud. Other reviewers have reported the same experience, which leads me to believe that the culprit is the movie, not the theater. The voices are way quieter than the rest, which forces projectionists to choose between damaging people's ears and leaving half the dialogues inaudible. I've noticed that a lot of critics who pan the movie complain about not hearing the dialogues. It's easy to understand how frustrated one would be in a movie where every line can hold a key plot element.
For a high-budget movie by a veteran director, there is simply no excuse. It's entirely on the movie for failing such a critical element.
Even the best movie isn't worth getting hearing damage, hence 5/10.