Director/Writer
Christopher Nolan (Dunkirk)
challenges his audience with Tenet, a
mind bending, ambitious, and at times overwhelming adventure. It melds two
distinct genres, spy and science fiction into a dazzling display of imagination.
Beginning
with a terrorist attack at a crowded concert venue, the ‘Protagonist’ (John
David Washington) is drawn into a desperate mission to seek the source of a
mysterious, potentially world altering paradox called ‘inversion’. With a
special agent (Robert Pattinson), the trail leads to a ruthless, powerful Russian
(Kenneth Branagh at his villainous best) and his estranged wife (Elizabeth Debicki).
As the stakes rise astronomically, the
threat of world annihilation becomes real unless the agents can somehow
intervene.
The
control of one’s destiny and the bond between parent and child are recurring
themes in Nolan’s films where his characters are at the center of extraordinary,
transformative events. Further, he has
always been fascinated with fragmenting and scrambling linear narrative (like
Momento). The film’s plot device is an
intricate concept (even more convoluted than his great Inception) like pieces of a very complicated puzzle that slowly come
together. Though confusing at times, the
best thing is to just go with it (and watch it again). A miniseries could
have been a better format.
With
his excellent cast (Michael Caine, makes another appearance), Nolan devises
some wonderfully elaborate set pieces including an airport heist and a couple
of wild chases with an added dimension unlike anything you’ve seen. He is obviously
exercising his affinity for James Bond films.
This
is moviemaking on a superior level with its sweeping scope of locations and production
value.
If only the plot was a bit easier to follow. I give Nolan credit for sheer audaciousness in
aiming high and just missing the mark.
***1/2 of
**** stars (for Nolan fans)
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