So, I just got back to from the theatre. I am just going to lay out my general thoughts:
I really liked it, super good time at the theatre.
I generally really liked it, letting it just wash over me. I felt like this movie was Nolan bingo. All his pet obsessions are there: Spousal relationship amidst a sci fi spectacle, time, lies, suicide, and trashing every type of vehicle. I loved the craft on display in the film: the cinematography the editing. The prologue was different which made me happy. I also loved how vicious and unpleasant the movie was at times…it made the stakes and tension.
I do not agree with the general sentiment that the movie is cold, humorless, characterless, and a misstep. I thought that every scene built to the next, sort of teaching you how to watch it. I even laughed outload during a few moments, I think it was some of RP dry witty responses. The actors did a great job; I have to say, the abuse subplot with Kenneth Branagh and Elizabeth Depicke worked for me. It is an inversion of the Nolan usual spousal relationship. In fact, I think both are actors are great, and truly, I find myself needing to defend Branagh, there is an honesty to his portrayal. I think he is up there with the Joker and Bane in the Nolan villain-canon, but for the opposite reason: he is so petty and human and resentful.
I also think that this movie must have been inspired by the making of Dunkirk. Nolan seems to be obsessed with a sort of Point-of-view filmmaking, a Roshomonness. Just like how in Dunkirk we see different characters witness the same event, and how the information/impact is different, Tenet is a furthering of that approach.
I think this movie might be Nolan’s most stylish. The production design was so detailed, along with some bold editing choices. I am glad that Nolan doesn’t overindulge in things like slo-mo, but man do I wish some shots where slowed down so I could revel in the insanity. This is not about shot length or composition, but because everything was in real time my mind was having trouble keeping up with all the cool shit. The imagery he uses to reinforce the movies concept where super cool:
I feel like a lot of the reactions I see seem to be reacting poorly to the movie’s genre trappings. People are being very ungenerous to it. M:1 Fallout has like a 98% Rt score, and Henry Cavill uses the expression: “Why won’t you just die?” (unironically) So apparently, we are okay with clichés if Tom Cruise is involved. The movie was an action/adventure movie, where Nolan makes abstract paintings out of action scenes, and I am here for that.
The sound mix…was fucking shit. This has been a constant Nolan problem. He needs to figure this out. Both myself and my partner couldn’t make heads or tails of like 50% of the dialogue.
I have no opinion on the score…which is disappointing. The first time I saw Nolan’s previous movies the scores instantly stuck out as iconic and special. This one may make an impression over time, but so far I’m ambivalent.
Just my general thoughts. I think, so far, I’m more in love with Inception, Dark Knight, The prestige, Memento, Intertellar, and Dunkirk (I can’t even rank these six because I love them all equally for different reasons). It is better than Batman Begins, DKR, Insomnia, and Following.