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.

A24 A-to-Z: #80. "High Life" (2019)

Scene from High Life (2019)

In case you didn't know, A24 is one of the great purveyors of modern cinema. Since 2013, the studio has found a way to innovate independent cinema by turning each release into an event. As a result, A24 A-to-Z will be an ongoing series that looks at every release from the studio by analyzing its production history, release, criticisms, and any awards attention that it might've received. Join me on a quest to explore the modern heroes of cinema by exploring every hit and miss that comes with that magnificent logo. They may not all be great, but they more than make A24 what it is and what it will hopefully continue to be for years to come. 

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. 

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.

Review: "The King" Finds Chalamet as a Mediocre Ruler

Scene from The King (2019)

For those with a Netflix subscription, this Oscar season has been extremely fun to witness from your home. This season has lead to some exciting results, whether The Laundromat, the Breaking Bad film El Camino, or the Eddie Murphy comeback vehicle Dolemite is My Name. If there's a box that needs to be checked off, the streaming service has one. In their latest Oscar-push, director David Michod's The King, the studio tackles the historical drama by focusing on the exploits of King "Hal" Henry V (Timothee Chalamet), a young leader without a strong grasp on leadership. The film focuses on him taking on France in an effort for expanding his power, and the film manages to be a bit of a slog in the process. It' s a decent period piece, but far from the most entertaining film that Netflix has released in the past few weeks. 

Review: "The Lighthouse" is a Discomforting Hallucination of Pure Joy

Scene from The Lighthouse (2019)

In the world of Robert Eggers, the idea of isolation is a horrifying reality. His debut The Witch followed a family outcasted to the edge of town, forced to deal helplessly with the demons that lay in the forest. It was a horrifying film, exploring the struggles of faith as personal demons ate every character whole. The same can be said for The Lighthouse, with two men watching a lighthouse and doing everything to stay sane on an abandoned island. Unlike The Witch, The Lighthouse falls more into the realm of a dark comedy, becoming more disturbing in its humor as each bottle of liquor goes down, eventually splashing over their chins as they dance recklessly. They can't escape the island until the storm passes, but how long will that be? A day, a week, a month? It's a tale of survival that finds Eggers once again diving into the muck of humanity to find something equally repulsive and amazing. With a career-best performance by Robert Pattinson, the film is a haunted sea shanty that will drive everyone nuts - and that's only half of the fun. 

A24 A-to-Z: #54. "Good Time" (2017)

Scene from Good Time

In case you didn't know, A24 is one of the great purveyors of modern cinema. Since 2013, the studio has found a way to innovate independent cinema by turning each release into an event. As a result, A24 A-to-Z will be an ongoing series that looks at every release from the studio by analyzing its production history, release, criticisms, and any awards attention that it might've received. Join me on a quest to explore the modern heroes of cinema by exploring every hit and miss that comes with that magnificent logo. They may not all be great, but they more than make A24 what it is and what it will hopefully continue to be for ears to come.

A24 A-to-Z: #10. "The Rover" (2014)

Scene from The Rover

In case you didn't know, A24 is one of the great purveyors of modern cinema. Since 2013, the studio has found a way to innovate independent cinema by turning each release into an event. As a result, A24 A-to-Z will be an ongoing series that looks at every release from the studio by analyzing its production history, release, criticisms, and any awards attention that it might've received. Join me on a quest to explore the modern heroes of cinema by exploring every hit and miss that comes with that magnificent logo. They may not all be great, but they more than make A24 what it is and what it will hopefully continue to be for ears to come.

Review: "Good Time" is a Powerful and Unnerving Journey Into Moral Chaos

Robert Pattinson

The opening scene of directors Benny and Josh Safdie is a quiet one. With a close-up of mentally challenged man Nick (Benny Safdie), he is being seen by a therapist who is trying to get him to open up. Nick is at first reluctant, but soon learns to shed a tear. As breakthrough is made, a force comes running through the door. It's his brother Connie (Robert Pattinson), who doesn't believe in therapy and believes that Nick is wasting his time. Connie believes that he knows what is right, and that scene transitions into the swirling chaos that is Good Time: a title made ironic in that no character actually has a happy ending. What it does however show is a brilliant character study of how one man's arrogance can find itself clashing with his love in damaging ways over the course of one night, ruining lives when he set out to make his better. It's a powerful film, and one that should officially erase any astigmatism that you have about Pattinson's work in the Twilight franchise. Those who see it won't forget it, as it intensely attacks the soul with contradictory themes and even more stimulating visuals. It may not be the flashiest film of 2017, but it can't help being one of the most intense.

Theory Thursday: "Cosmopolis" (2012) is Underrated

Scene from Cosmopolis

Welcome to a weekly column called Theory Thursdays, which will be released every Thursday and discuss my "controversial opinion" related to something relative to the week of release. Sometimes it will be birthdays while others is current events or a new film release. Whatever the case may be, this is a personal defense for why I disagree with the general opinion and hope to convince you of the same. While I don't expect you to be on my side, I do hope for a rational argument. After all, film is a subjective medium and this is merely just a theory that can be proven either way. 

Is "Breaking Dawn - Part 2" Capable of an Oscar Nomination?

Left to right: Taylor Lautner and Kristen Stewart

This Friday marks the end of an era for many people. What started as an independent film has grown into an international phenomenon that has broken box office records and has popularized vampires for a new generation. However, with director Bill Condon's The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2, can the series join the pantheon of series finales such as director Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King and David Yates' Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 as Oscar nominated films that at very least have gotten recognition for the culmination of work over the past few years?