Tenet is the new film by Christopher Nolan, well-known director who became popularly famous for Inception, Interstellar, Dunkirk and the saga of Batman with Christian Bale. Released in theaters on August 26 2020 (just two days ago) and announced with a confusing but intriguing trailer to say the least, we couldn't miss it. We went to the cinema and came out, in fact, a little confused but generally pleased. Before talking about the film, however, I want to talk to you about something that centers but does not center with the film, a sort of spoiler with no context incomprehensible to those who have not already seen the film.
The following review is spoiler-free, so you can read it even without watching the movie. So continue without fear and come back here after watching TENET!
The Square of the Sator
The Square of the Sator
The Square of the Sator it is an artifact (in fact, a square) found through numerous archaeological excavations in various places in Europe, most of which are linked to Christian places of worship dating back to the Roman Empire. This magic square (specific term) has the same words even when read in a boustrophedical way: SATOR AREPO TENET OPERA TORAS
The meaning of the Square has long been debated, as some words can have dual meanings based on the possible translation errors underlying the texts that are used as a comparison. In principle, Tent indicates Creator, Healer, Sower or, more simply, Generator. Arepo it is more complex since it could simply indicate a proper name or, according to others, mean tool, plow, a tool suitable for sowing. The last three words, Tenet, Opera e Routes, they would mean "holds, holds, guides", "with care, the works" and "wheels".
Obviously the meaning changes according to the way of reading, starting from a meaning to be traced back to an Evangelical text, "the sower, with the chariot, carefully holds the wheels", to a more mysterious (and in my opinion) fascinating:
"The Sower decides his daily work, but the Supreme Court decides his fate"
Find more information starting from Wed, a simple Wikipedia page, then expanding to the various sources.
TENET: The Protagonist
That Tenet it was not a simple film I had already understood from the trailer, complex, difficult, extremely confusing but intriguing. Nolan, on the other hand, has already got us used well with Inception e Interstellar, extraordinary films and full of twists, therefore the expectations were rightly high.
Tenet it begins in an atypical way; launching us immediately into the action through breathtaking shots and lots and lots of action, to move to glimpses and landscapes in constant motion through various landscapes. Initially it looks like a spy story, after which it mixes many genres together, all in the wake of the action. Once the action is over, the explanation begins, which leaves the viewer (often) more puzzled than how he found it. Tenet, I am convinced, it is a film that must be watched several times to be heard; the first time you are amazed by the special effects, you end the film enjoying the music of Goransson (The Mandalorian), and the plot is broadly understood.
I admit that, of all sectors, the musical one has left me a little less enthusiastic; maybe because I already knew he would be missing Hans Zimmer, already struggling with Dune, , perhaps because some of the tracks weren't quite right. The cast is simply spectacular; Robert Pattinson (Neil) had already given ample proof of quality (and Twilight becomes a simple but useful stepping stone). Kenneth Branagh ed Elizabeth Debicki (Andrei and Kat Sator) perfectly placed in their parts and excellent for supporting the main character.
John David Washington, the Protagonist, holds up well the weight of the script. After Spike Lee's BlacKKKlansman, I expected a good performance and got it. Despite this, some of the dialogues seemed a little out of phase, much or too much in themselves and not very logical.
The result?
TENET is a good film not immediate like Inception nor Interstellar, non-linear like Batman o Dunkirk, but equally majestic and pleasant. Even if playing with time, space and temporal paradoxes is risky (the suspension of disbelief is difficult to maintain) TENET succeeds in its objective, giving a long film (150 minutes) to an audience that will probably appreciate it the second time around. The first vision, on the other hand, It's only the beginning.
