Review: "Tenet" is a Messy Achievement in Time and Regret

Scene from Tenet (2020)

*NOTE: Contains vague spoilers

Even as a human construct, time is a precious commodity. It is a constant reminder that we are mortal, that one day we will run out of time. Nobody has done more to explore man's relationship to this structure than director Christopher Nolan. Going back to his sophomore film Memento, he has continually explored the compromise of an uncertain future with a past we are quickly forgetting. We exist in the moment, and it's unclear how fragile the road ahead will be. He's made it into an art form, turning space travel into these time trials with Interstellar, and (most cleverly) history into its own maze of madness with Dunkirk. One can argue that his peak exploration of time came with Inception, when a dream within a dream found time-shifting in new and innovative was, finding him at his biggest galaxy brain, quite literally. This is the epitome of Nolan. We just have to trust him to handle our time wisely.

In what has been called an "in-law" sequel by actor John David Washington, Tenet is his most exciting and strange movie yet. Not since The Dark  Knight Rises has he been so off-kilter, taking risks that don't always land. Still, it's what makes it one of his most interesting movies, finding time moving forward and backward, usually at the same time. There has been nothing like Tenet, though mostly because few directors have the competency of Nolan to make it work. It's a miracle that this works as well as it does. It may not all make sense, but it's the perfect example of what cinema should be: constantly challenging expectations, meddling with the unknown, and thinking about it for years upon years. Tenet is one of his most imperfect movies, but it's one that asks to be talked about, and in that right makes it one of his most enjoyable films to nitpick maybe even get a physics degree. To like Tenet is difficult, though rewarding to those nerdy enough to do so. Press play and sit back. Don't expect to get it all on the first watch. Just know you'll be spending a lot of time here, if you want to.

"Tenet" is Back On in 70 Countries This August

Scene from Tenet (2020)

Well, it didn't take long for Christopher Nolan to fall back on his old ways. It was recently announced that Tenet was going to be postponed indefinitely. It made sense all things considered. However, it looks like theaters may be opening back up sometime soon. While America may still be a state of fluctuation, there is a good chance that audiences around the world will be getting to see the film a whole lot sooner. Yes, after some deliberation it's been revealed that Tenet will be playing in theaters this August... it just depends on where you live and how willing you are to risk your health. 

At Long Last, "Tenet" is Delayed Indefinitely

Scene from Tenet (202?)

For many, the upcoming release of Tenet was going to be a beacon of hope. After months of the theatrical experience being permanently uprooted (at least stateside), many saw this summer going differently. July would come around and with it a return to a normal, watching the latest Christopher Nolan movie with such aplomb that one can't help but remember why we went to the movies in the first place. Well, there's some bad news. First, it was announced that the film was being pushed back to August. Then in a move made just this week, Tenet is on indefinite hiatus. It's something that is a bit sad, but also a perfect ironic note. More than anything Tenet taking this long to be postponed is a sign of a ridiculous hubris that could never be fulfilled. It's a sign of  how much still needs to be done before theaters can open, which is a great bummer.

Nolan Isn't Giving Up On Theaters With New "Tenet" Trailer

Scene from Tenet (2020)

Leave it to Christopher Nolan to not even do the pandemic conventionally. While Tenet has gotten by on an unconventional marketing strategy reminiscent of Inception, it's more the reality that it's the only major summer release still scheduled to be released theatrically. In a time where everyone is going to streaming, Nolan still believes that the world will be returning to normal by this summer. One can hope that's true because there's plenty to love about his latest, especially in the visual department. The latest trailer is another cacophony of wonderful mystery, bringing the clearest version of the story so far. Even then, it's still full of mysteries that you'll probably not understand until the third watch. 

Composing Greatness: #15. The Freshman Class of the 2010's - "BlacKkKlansman" (2017)

Scene from BlacKkKlansman

Welcome to Composing Greatness: a column dedicated to exploring the work of film composers. This will specifically focus on the films that earned them Oscar nominations while exploring what makes it so special. This will be broken down into a look at the overall style, interesting moments within the composition, and what made the score worth nominating in the first place. This will also include various subcategories where I will rank the themes of each film along with any time that the composer actually wins. This is a column meant to explore a side of film that doesn't get enough credit while hopefully introducing audiences to an enriched view of more prolific composers' work. This will only cover scores/songs that are compiled in an easily accessible format (so no extended scores will be considered). Join me every Sunday as I cover these talents that if you don't know by name, you recognize by sound.

Nolan Performs a Timely Stealth Mission with the Official "Tenet" Trailer

Scene from Tenet (2020)

In case you haven't been to the theaters in the past six months, you'll be surprised to know that Christopher Nolan has a new movie coming out next year. In a move that's largely unprecedented, the first teaser for Tenet premiered in theaters and miraculously avoided any official version on the internet. Even if it didn't generate a consistent buzz, it at least managed to create a need to be at a certain place at a certain time and wonder in ways that most movie marketing won't allow in this day and age. After months of guessing what this movie is about, it's finally revealed an official trailer on the internet. The issue is that while some questions about what Tenet is have been answered, several more have only begun to surface. It's a Nolan trailer, and that means you'll want to watch this a few times before making up your mind on what's going on.

Composing Greatness: #1. Oscars 2019 Edition - "BlacKkKlansman"

Scene from BlacKkKlansman

Welcome to a very special edition of Composing Greatness. In this limited series, I will be looking at the five scores nominated for this year's Best Original Score category. To avoid favoritism, the list will be done in alphabetical order of composers and feature the same guidelines as the original series. This is meant to explore the music behind the great films of 2018, and provide insight into what makes each of them special and whether or not they deserved to be nominated at all. Join me all week as I listen to the  music, leave some thoughts, and hopefully sway you to check out these wonderful, wonderful scores.

Review: "BlacKkKlansman" is a Giant Gut Punch of Profound Film Making

Scene from BlacKkKlansman

By the age of 61, most storied filmmakers have done their best work and are in the "safe" era of their careers. Not Spike Lee. While his career has never been nothing short of abrasive and confrontational, his latest BlacKkKlansman is a film that comes like a foot knocking down a door. Much like the general discourse, he's mad at the problematic race relations of the modern era and wants to have a blunt discussion of why we should be angrier about it. Over the course of his film, he has created one of the most delightful, uncomfortable, prophetic, energetic, scary films of his career. Even from its title, which alludes to the Ku Klux Klan characters at the center of the story, it doesn't come subtle. But on the bright side, Lee is one of the few old hats that are angry with a purpose, and it's so nice to have a film this immediate to prove the value of art to change discourse, provided everyone stops and listens.