Read Negative User Reviews for Tenet

1

DaveAusSep 6, 2020

Well this was a lot of boring and ridiculous pretensions nonsense. It's been a long time since Christopher Nolan made something good.

19 of 30 users found this helpful1911

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3

doughnutsfanSep 8, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The movie is a pretentious, exposition heavy mess, it throws around terms like plutonium and algorithm just to seem complicated, but it's quite simple and unoriginal, John David Washington is a great actor and exudes charisma, but his character and the entire cast are undercooked in typical Nolan fashion, the female lead is a tired, boring caricature, and even the actress's performance cannot salvage the role, another underwhelming Nolan flick, though not as bad as the inception… Expand

16 of 30 users found this helpful1614

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0

SanflaSep 6, 2020

The only thing more confusing than the movie is the good reviews i am reading.

15 of 29 users found this helpful1514

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2

NoHemoSep 8, 2020

I went to this movie with my friends a few days after the premiere, and was shocked to find nobody else in the theater. If only I knew why, I probably would've saved a couple bucks and my time. About halfway into the movie I realize that II went to this movie with my friends a few days after the premiere, and was shocked to find nobody else in the theater. If only I knew why, I probably would've saved a couple bucks and my time. About halfway into the movie I realize that I literally have no idea what is going on. I turn to my friends, and it seems that they are completely lost as well. We ended up walking out about halfway through the movie. This feels like one of those pretentious artsy movie people make when they realize they could sell people anything. With enough big names, people will watch anything and pretend it's a masterpiece. I feel like most of the high ratings come from people being told that this is a good movie, and that they are complete idiots if they don't understand it. I give it one point for being very easy to make fun of with my friends, as well as one point for reverse car, the only enjoyable thing in the actual movie.… Expand

26 of 51 users found this helpful2625

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0

halfbloodprinceSep 9, 2020

This is so inept, emotionless and devoid of nuance it's actually annoying. And I'm someone who likes Inception and Interstellar. Those movies at least have an emotional core, which I'm starting to believe was an accident because this film wasThis is so inept, emotionless and devoid of nuance it's actually annoying. And I'm someone who likes Inception and Interstellar. Those movies at least have an emotional core, which I'm starting to believe was an accident because this film was so soulless. Not only does Tenet have bland characters and bad pacing but terrible sound design coupled with too much expository dialogue. A mess… Expand

26 of 52 users found this helpful2626

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1

MoochymichxoSep 7, 2020

Loud mumbling incoherent nonsense. Second time I ever walked out of a film.

17 of 34 users found this helpful1717

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2

Nobilis1984Sep 5, 2020

Now a serious question. What's great about that? I saw him for 10 minutes and was already bored. Yes the stunts and effects are well done. But what kind of lame production is that? The dialogues don't add anything just suspense or story.
AsNow a serious question. What's great about that? I saw him for 10 minutes and was already bored. Yes the stunts and effects are well done. But what kind of lame production is that? The dialogues don't add anything just suspense or story.
As an audio book it would be a recommendation but as a film it would be a total failure.… Expand

15 of 30 users found this helpful1515

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3

GlassoSep 3, 2020

I see that a lot of Nolan fanboys are trying to knock any criticism saying that "Oh that's 'cos you didn't understand it". Oh what rubbish. I'm a fan of most of Nolan's work (Dunkirk is a masterpiece) but this I found to be an unsatisfyingI see that a lot of Nolan fanboys are trying to knock any criticism saying that "Oh that's 'cos you didn't understand it". Oh what rubbish. I'm a fan of most of Nolan's work (Dunkirk is a masterpiece) but this I found to be an unsatisfying and cold movie. Firstly the pacing was all wrong with no establishment work done on the different locations, just a frenetic rush from one set-piece to another after the laboured exposition hour is out of the way! The set pieces themselves, aside from the opening one were the opposite of immersive, the biggest fault I found with the movie. They should deepen the magic of the cinema transfix-ion experience, not break the spell. The inversion gimmick felt derivative and just not as good as Nolan thinks it is - certainly not enough to hang the whole movie off of. It's a high-concept fail in this case unfortunately. Three out of Ten-et. I fear that Nolan may have peaked and is in decline. It's really about time that he called time on the theme of time, at this time.… Expand

28 of 58 users found this helpful2830

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2

InstantkrmaSep 5, 2020

(((This is probably the dumbest movie I seen in a long time!))) I actually like some of Nolan's movies, but this one is terrible. This movies premise is fine, and under the right direction would have been as good as Inception. However, Nolan(((This is probably the dumbest movie I seen in a long time!))) I actually like some of Nolan's movies, but this one is terrible. This movies premise is fine, and under the right direction would have been as good as Inception. However, Nolan directed this movie like he was on Speed! That's a fact. A lot of fast pass incoherent scenes I will definitely have to see again just to understand that the movie really is incoherent not me. Whew!!! And I thought I was on a bad trip, nope its just Nolan. What I liked: 1. Hard concepts being thrown at the audience like they know what's going on. Call me a snob but I am up for a challenge. I don't appreciate easy dumbed down material. Besides we are in an internet age, people should be willing to look these things up. Its not like it wouldn't take more than ten seconds. Just saying! 2. It is a well acted movie despite the dumb dialog, and objectional ways characters plod on with minute character development. What I don't like: 1. Over the top convoluted plot with many working parts, but no payoff. I think if the action, events and storyline was simplified we would have had a better understanding of what was going on. To go here and there for a McGuffin was rather stupid, or to chase McGuffin to meet a character did not work for me. Seems like busy work. 2. Characters appear cold because we don't know them or care for them. The only character that seemed fleshed out was the billionaires wife (I don't remember her name proven my point). If Nolan did the same for others it would have been more tolerable a movie. Nolan does not give his main character a name, but a title. Not a good idea, its smug! 3. Motivations and plot holes that make no sense. There is a lot of them and makes this movie seem messy and chaotic. There is a scene where I don't understand why character are at this place that they are suppose to be. It's just writing into story so characters can have temporal encounters and have a cool looking scene. Its like the editor needed to cut the scene but kept it in movie. 4. Fowards/ backwards running, walking, or battling was cringe! In other words it like rewinding a movie while having other characters fight the tide. Stupid! The the whole movie is this. Here is my solution one group stays in current universe, one goes into another past universe only during temporal disturbances do they see each other, interact, or objects get moved or disappear. Yeah, it would have been a lot of ghosting going on, but it would have been fun. I think Interstellar had scenes like that, and did the storyline collapse, no! 6. Exposition men! Nolan does this alot! Characters that are there to explain stories are lame. But characters that are there to explain concepts and story at warp speed, are....still lame. Imagine someone came off the street and explained Einstein's Theory of relativity in two minutes then expected you to write a paper on it. That is the way this movie feels. And no, I do understand this movie, that's the problem 6. The dialog is unrealistic, no one talks like they do, there is a lot of cliché dialog, might I add some of it was very cringe for an cerebral movie like this. It takes you out of the movie. 7. This movie is very task oriented so much so it brings to mind Olympic relay racing one runner passes off the torch to the next and so on. There is Mcguffin finding, finding people to do the next task, and convincing people to let the main characters tag along. So minor character get introduced to only to run the race. And most of the dialog is around that. Again not really a movie more like Iron Man or a trilithon. I am sure that Cristopher Nolan had a masterpiece in his head but he got caught up in the complex churning monster that is this plot. I would probably recommend renting this movie.… Expand

21 of 46 users found this helpful2125

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2

raporgiSep 3, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. An embarrassing exercise in self-indulgence. 90% of the dialogue is exposition. The characters don't talk like people at all. Script felt rough and hastily put together. The ideas are forced to the point of cringe. Action sequences are awkward as is the norm in noylan's other movies. It's too self-impressed and tiltilated by its own cleverness. It's just not enjoyable to watch. Nolan is a hack. The Emperor has no clothes. I couldn't care less abt the characters. The premise is frankly incredibly stupid. Good luck understanding the dialog. Sound mix is all over the place coupled with the most annoying soundtrack since inception. Nolan is a sick mentally disturbed individual.… Expand

23 of 52 users found this helpful2329

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1

PrestonAustinSep 5, 2020

One of the worst and most confusing plots, if there was one, ever. Ridiculous camera work with many shot reversals that will give you a headache. Don’t encourage production of such shoddy work by seeing. Watch on prime for a $1.00 when itOne of the worst and most confusing plots, if there was one, ever. Ridiculous camera work with many shot reversals that will give you a headache. Don’t encourage production of such shoddy work by seeing. Watch on prime for a $1.00 when it burns out in theater. Lead actress strangely floats in lifeless passivity. Utter loss.… Expand

17 of 42 users found this helpful1725

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2

Paul10Sep 6, 2020

The idea of the movie seemed nice enough but the movie itself turned out to be terrible. I do not understand all the good reviews. In my opinion it is just another boring action movie. The story is unnecessary confusing and hectic. TheThe idea of the movie seemed nice enough but the movie itself turned out to be terrible. I do not understand all the good reviews. In my opinion it is just another boring action movie. The story is unnecessary confusing and hectic. The dialogues and the characters are flat. After watching the movie you do not even remember the names of the characters because you simply do not care. Some of the visuals and effects are nice but the amount of explosions can not hide the bad storytelling. Overall, in my opinion the movie was not worth the money. Best about the cinema visit was the popcorn.… Expand

13 of 24 users found this helpful1311

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2

dmturnerSep 9, 2020

I'm a fan of Christopher Nolan and I have been wishing for a film that makes you think but sadly this movie is not good at all. There is zero character development or character at all. The villain is just a Russian stereotype and you can'tI'm a fan of Christopher Nolan and I have been wishing for a film that makes you think but sadly this movie is not good at all. There is zero character development or character at all. The villain is just a Russian stereotype and you can't understand what anyone is saying due to the score playing over them. It was a big disappointment.… Expand

13 of 24 users found this helpful1311

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2

Shepard_209Sep 4, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The movie barely makes an effort to explain the massive quantities of incoherences and potential plot holes by smothering key explanation scenes with metaphors and perplexing dialogues. The dialogues are in fact extremely unrealistic and almost "shakespearean" at times. Even after watching it multiple times and reading variois explanations, it is still full of plot holes and nonsense. I really think nolan exagerated this time… Expand

14 of 26 users found this helpful1412

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1

robinhawdonSep 14, 2020

Possibly the most fatuous film ever made. And it cost squillions. If you want to know why America is losing the plot see this movie.

9 of 17 users found this helpful98

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0

JLWSep 11, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The music video to Heinrich Maneuver or the reverse scene in Top Secret have better action, clearer exposition, and logical metaphysics. The good reviews conflate a sense of wonder at the spectacle of special effects and a plot that tries to mess with narrative flow (read: time travel) with being challenged intellectually by complex, clearly formulated philosophical problems. Tenet is riddled with incoherent plot jumps, mumbled overwrought dialogue, stupid explanations, and little real action besides a brief fight scene or blue and red tagged soldiers running around, shooting at poorly realized enemies. Tenet is truly an unmitigated mess. Worst big screen film ever. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY. There are far better time travel films out there.… Expand

11 of 21 users found this helpful1110

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1

SuzumiyaSep 11, 2020

This movie sets up rules, doesn't follow them. Lacks character development to make me care about the protagonist, worst yet has the protagonist call him self a protagonist. And any mind blowing revelation is forced into your view MANY times.This movie sets up rules, doesn't follow them. Lacks character development to make me care about the protagonist, worst yet has the protagonist call him self a protagonist. And any mind blowing revelation is forced into your view MANY times. This movie didn't respect it's audience. Is this really the same director as memento? What happened to it?… Expand

11 of 21 users found this helpful1110

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0

prestonaustin00Sep 6, 2020

How did Nolan convince a collective hive to spend $200 million on a morass that is a psychosis penultimate. Would have made a better CGI cartoon. Sad sad sad

12 of 24 users found this helpful1212

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1

jeffreybwaltersSep 10, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Wow, wanted to love this movie. Loved Inception, and liked Interstellar. I love SciFi, and time bending, mind bending movies. However, this movie was a waste of time. Hard to understand accents and confusing dialog. Didn't really care about the characters or plot. Sound was horrible, dialog hard to distinguish with background noise and music. Sound mix had music way too loud. Really was ready to walk out after about 45 minutes, but kept hoping it would get better. Maybe because of overdone sound and effects, parts of it seemed a little like a cheap Japanese kung foo or godzilla movie. Final battle scene seemed to have an army throwing bombs and shooting at a non-existent enemy. They are attacking a shutdown defunct nuclear power plant. They never show the supposed enemy. Plus, one army is attacking in normal time, while troops from the same army attack in reverse time, sucking up bullets and unexploding buildings. None of this is ever very well explained. I'm so disappointed based on Christopher Nolan's previous work, this just doesn't cut it. Sorry, but what a waste of $200 million dollars. At the very least, wait for the DVD to come out. Absolutely not worth paying theater prices. It's 2 1/2 hours of your life, that you'll never get back. :((
P.S. Love sciFi, The Matrix, Source Code, Adjustment Bureau, Inception, Passengers, and many others, but this just ranks so far below any of these.… Expand

10 of 21 users found this helpful1011

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0

OptionyoutSep 12, 2020

Probably the worst movie I've ever seen in a theatre. This review would contain spoilers if I had any clue what the hell was going on. So I'll keep this short and sweet. The music is so loud you can't hear the dialogue and every other personProbably the worst movie I've ever seen in a theatre. This review would contain spoilers if I had any clue what the hell was going on. So I'll keep this short and sweet. The music is so loud you can't hear the dialogue and every other person had an accent which doesn't help when you are fighting to hear the words. 45 minutes in I turned to my son and said I had no idea what is going on and he said he had no clue either. After another hour he said let's go bc he was clueless and I said let's just start for the action. Then the climax comes and I have no clue who is shooting at who, where they are why they are even there or what they are trying to accomplish. Then after the climax I don't even know what the hell they are splitting up, what it does or why. I left as they were trying to explain what had transpired and it didn't even matter. Zero starts and if rather stick a needle in my eye then even attempt to go online to figure it out. Water off money and 2 1/2 hours of my life. I'm dumber now and out $25.… Expand

9 of 20 users found this helpful911

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0

hyunwestSep 20, 2020

i feel like people are gonna hate me for this review but i just feel like the movie was not an entertainment for me. i dont want to pay to watch an almost 3 hr movie to have my head hurt from thinking and trying so hard to figure out whatsi feel like people are gonna hate me for this review but i just feel like the movie was not an entertainment for me. i dont want to pay to watch an almost 3 hr movie to have my head hurt from thinking and trying so hard to figure out whats going on and to catch everything and process it. YES, i know i can watch it many more times. I dont care. I dont want to watch it anymore because my first time watching it was a bad experience. this is just my personal opinion. i pay to watch a movie for entertainment. i loved Interstellar and Inception, even though they were both difficult to understand, and with those 2 movies I wanted to watch the movie more times after i watched them once. And each time I rewatched them, it was a great experience. But Tenet was just different. I think the material was just as interesting and not any more esoteric than that of Interstellar and Inception, but maybe its execution was not as good as the other two. Or maybe it's just me. My younger sister enjoyed Tenet a lot and said that she thought it was easier to understand than Interstellar. Well, its just my opinion haha. To each their own.… Expand

8 of 18 users found this helpful810

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3

fnkrjnkieSep 14, 2020

Saw this in a brand new theater that is less then a year old. Paid the premium ticket price to see it in AVX and I struggled to make out a single thing the characters were saying 70% of the movie. Tenet was by far the most frustrating movieSaw this in a brand new theater that is less then a year old. Paid the premium ticket price to see it in AVX and I struggled to make out a single thing the characters were saying 70% of the movie. Tenet was by far the most frustrating movie experience I have ever had at a movie. I struggled to pick up what characters were saying all the time. It took me right out of the movie and just left me frustrated. Based on what I saw regardless... the movie seemed dumb anyways. That final battle looked like someone's Tik Tok battle creation LOL… Expand

7 of 16 users found this helpful79

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1

doctoezSep 12, 2020

This movie is like watching a script written by dementia patients that are tripping on acid. It has some good action here and there and a story that could be interesting if it wasn't so utterly confusing. Think Edge of Tomorrow except makingThis movie is like watching a script written by dementia patients that are tripping on acid. It has some good action here and there and a story that could be interesting if it wasn't so utterly confusing. Think Edge of Tomorrow except making absolutely no sense.… Expand

7 of 16 users found this helpful79

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0

jimlockSep 20, 2020

...and me who thought Inception and Interstellar were Nolan's worst...
This is definitely worst that any of his previous films and a terrible movie overall.
Some say it tries too hard and fails. I say it does't even try ... The entire concept...and me who thought Inception and Interstellar were Nolan's worst...
This is definitely worst that any of his previous films and a terrible movie overall.
Some say it tries too hard and fails. I say it does't even try ... The entire concept is incoherent, childish and even poorly executed. Even if it made some sense (WHICH IT ABSOLUTELY DOES NOT), the very fact that people claim that you need to watch it several times to get it ... is proof enough of bad storytelling.
Memento, The Prestige and Dunkirk are his only movies worth spending a dime on (...and the Dark knight to some extent...)… Expand

8 of 19 users found this helpful811

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1

Ox88Sep 27, 2020

Slow boring movie. Highly don't recommend. Bill and Ted is way better to spend your money on.

5 of 12 users found this helpful57

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3

ReviewUsernameSep 3, 2020

People left the theater periodically after the first hour. Tenet has a confusing and boring story line that only pays off if you actually know what's happening. Unfortunately, the movie likely lost your attention within the first 15 minutesPeople left the theater periodically after the first hour. Tenet has a confusing and boring story line that only pays off if you actually know what's happening. Unfortunately, the movie likely lost your attention within the first 15 minutes and you're left trying to come up with more exciting things to think about while a bunch of arbitrary action scenes play out before you. Struggle to pay attention and appreciate whatever payoff the ending has to offer or watch something else.… Expand

13 of 32 users found this helpful1319

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0

lofuagfySep 3, 2020

Before i start reviewing i am a big Nolan fan here. Doodlebug, Memento, The Prestige, Inception, Interstellar.It starts off well enough, and the backward visuals look interesting enough, but gradually everything starts to feel very gimmicky.IBefore i start reviewing i am a big Nolan fan here. Doodlebug, Memento, The Prestige, Inception, Interstellar.It starts off well enough, and the backward visuals look interesting enough, but gradually everything starts to feel very gimmicky.I couldn't even hear what the characters were saying. Nolan, I have loved your stories in the past. What happened?… Expand

13 of 32 users found this helpful1319

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0

KarenChurchillSep 3, 2020

Bad stupid and goofy. I fell asleep it's so boring. It has no plot or likeable characters bad bad bad I hate it I hate it

12 of 30 users found this helpful1218

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0

FederalAgentSep 4, 2020

Awful movie that will completely UNENTERTAIN you. Save your money for Bond as Tenet will leave with a 150 minute VOID in your life.You will feel ripped off and totally let down.This movie will go to the top of your "Worst movies of all time list".

11 of 28 users found this helpful1117

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3

MindSleep2Sep 16, 2020

The film is beautiful, well shot, with a great musical and interesting idea. Pattison is gorgeous as always. But there are 2 huge ones, but why this film is terribly bad - the plot is built on absurdity, the indestructibility of an artifact,The film is beautiful, well shot, with a great musical and interesting idea. Pattison is gorgeous as always. But there are 2 huge ones, but why this film is terribly bad - the plot is built on absurdity, the indestructibility of an artifact, like in some kind of fantasy, and for the majority the narration is so complex that they just leave the hall in the middle.… Expand

5 of 13 users found this helpful58

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2

ruizmigangSep 15, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Pretentious, silly, and boring to the point where I no longer cared what was happening.
It is just too outlandish, too incredible. Accepting time-travel in reverse is just a suspension of disbelief too far for me. It seems silly, stupid, and ridiculous how easily they do it. And boring.
I must admit I am a fan of Sci-Fi, but not of Time-travel. However, that is not the whole reason I didn't like this film as I have enjoyed some time-travel movies like Deja Vu (which I re-watched recently), Edge of Tomorrow, or Memento (or even the Terminator franchise).
And, no, I didn't like Insterstellar either, but I didn't dislike it as much as this one.… Expand

5 of 13 users found this helpful58

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1

ijusthadtosaySep 26, 2020

Worst movie I have seen. Well made but terrible plot. Did they proof read tge script? Lost 2hrs of my life. Acting was good but story sucks.

5 of 13 users found this helpful58

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1

barkerboiSep 28, 2020

I don't write reviews very often but this is one of the worst films I have ever seen. Every line of dialogue is plot exposition as the writer desperately tries to explain something absurdly convoluted in order to mask that the world, story orI don't write reviews very often but this is one of the worst films I have ever seen. Every line of dialogue is plot exposition as the writer desperately tries to explain something absurdly convoluted in order to mask that the world, story or logic of the film do not make sense. It is a pretensions mess that bores you rigid from about 10 minutes in. I am astonished that people have enjoyed this movie experience. Inception was one of my favorite films ever.… Expand

4 of 11 users found this helpful47

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2

Hulk2003WasBestSep 26, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It was like a Christopher Nolan movie, giant impressive set pieces, terrible audio and all but without the brains or likable characters. At one point early on a character asks about the rules of time travel, and another replies "try not to worry about it too much". Should have been the tagline of the movie… Expand

4 of 11 users found this helpful47

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2

Bertaut1Sep 30, 2020

An aesthetic showcase that's uninterested in human beings (and what does Christopher Nolan have against decent sound mixing?)

In Tenet, Christopher Nolan is again examining the vagaries of time, a theme that's front and centre in much of hisAn aesthetic showcase that's uninterested in human beings (and what does Christopher Nolan have against decent sound mixing?)

In Tenet, Christopher Nolan is again examining the vagaries of time, a theme that's front and centre in much of his previous work. It's undeniably fascinating to see a tent pole Hollywood production engaging with issues such as entropy, thermodynamics, reversibility and irreversibility, the grandfather paradox, and T-symmetry, but the film's main problems are more fundamental, existing almost entirely at a structural level (although some of the performances don't help, nor does the abysmal sound mixing). It looks incredible and the practical effects in the action scenes are extraordinary, but there's nothing of note under the shiny veneer. It's a film with no interest in human beings.

The plot is straightforward in outline. We follow a CIA operative known as The Protagonist (John David Washington) as he is recruited into an ultra-secret international espionage squad called Tenet. His mission is simple – at some point in the future, someone has figured out how to reverse the entropy of objects, effectively being able to send them back along the timeline without having to reverse time itself. The implications of this are catastrophic and have set humanity on course for World War III, unless The Protagonist can figure out who is doing it and put a stop to their machinations.

Tenet is an event movie in every way; this 150-minute, $200m+ original idea is a massive studio tent pole written and directed by the most popular filmmaker alive. And I will say this, the budget is on the screen. No small amount of that money, of course, went on the practical effects (incredibly, there are only 280 VFX shots) – whether it be bungee-jumping onto the side of a building, a close-quarters fight where one of the combatants moves in reverse, a Boeing 747 jet crashing into a building, a highway chase where some of the cars are going forward in time and others are going backwards, or an all-out battle scene where, again, some of the soldiers travel forward whilst others move in reverse.

Along the same lines, the cinematography by Hoyte van Hoytema is stunning, as he mixes 15-perf 70mm IMAX film with traditional 70mm stock and a few 35mm sequences in a manner where the shifts in aspect ratio are barely noticeable. It's the kind of film that could only exist in the medium of cinema – no other artform could even begin to approximate its aesthetic design and splendour. A celluloid purist, Nolan has always made a big stink about the artistic importance of cinema, and Tenet finds him pushing the aesthetic boundaries of what the artform can accomplish.

Unfortunately, no matter how visually unique or aesthetically impressive it may be, no amount of gloss can hide the fact that the screenplay suffers from some fundamental problems – most notably, it's bereft of emotion and populated with cardboard cut-outs that are supposed to be characters. The Protagonist isn't a person with an interiority; he's a cypher, the audience's surrogate so that Nolan can explain the plot to us. He's emotionless, void of relatable motivation, has no psychological through-line, and nothing even resembling a character arc. As for Kenneth Branagh as Russian oligarch Andrei Sator, he might be the most cliched Russian villain ever put on screen. He isn't a person – he's a collection of near-satirical tics, clichés, and elements from other, better films.

As Kat, Sator's trophy wife, Elizabeth Debicki fairs better, but her role is still poorly written. A common criticism of Nolan's filmography is that his female characters tend to be victims. I'm not saying that Nolan is obliged to write more rounded female characters. Much like Michael Mann, Nolan's films are androcentric. And there's nothing wrong with that. However, in Mann, there are strong female characters with considerable agency, whereas in Tenet, Kat is nothing more than a pawn who's defined almost entirely in terms of her role as a self-sacrificing mother.

At one point early in the film, The Protagonist is told "don't try to understand it, just feel it", which is advice that Nolan is also offering to his audience. The problem is that there's nothing to feel. Unlike Memento (which remains Nolan's best by a long way), which packed a seriously emotional gut-punch when we learn what's at the heart of the puzzle, Tenet offers us nothing more than the task of deciphering it for its own sake. There's no payoff, nothing to make us want to penetrate a story uninterested in depicting real people or real emotional stakes. More enamoured by the complexity of its own design than by any of the people contained within, it's an emotional void – all technical virtuosity and surface sheen with nothing at its core.… Expand

4 of 12 users found this helpful48

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2

SiomeSep 21, 2020

Stupid story, unclear motivation and plot, bad choice in narrative order, unexisting characters (even in the names), awefull acting except for Pattinson (ironically). Worst movie i saw this year. And i didn't even talked about theStupid story, unclear motivation and plot, bad choice in narrative order, unexisting characters (even in the names), awefull acting except for Pattinson (ironically). Worst movie i saw this year. And i didn't even talked about the incoherences, plotholes, errors, anachronisms. Time for the brother to come help Nolan to write a good story. The movie can cut at least 1H20 of time as everything is obvious.… Expand

4 of 12 users found this helpful48

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1

notalkingnowNov 10, 2020

This is by far the worst movie I have seen by Christopher Nolan. Where do I begin? First, maybe let's turn down the music and sound please? My eardrums were being raped in some scenes of this movie thanks to horrible music editing and mixing.This is by far the worst movie I have seen by Christopher Nolan. Where do I begin? First, maybe let's turn down the music and sound please? My eardrums were being raped in some scenes of this movie thanks to horrible music editing and mixing. It's just too loud.
Next, what was the point of the first half ? I kept asking myself "what's going on? who is this?" and trying to understand the fast-paced dialogue between characters. Critics are praising the acting, I am sorry what? Acting is barely passable level, it's just bland and soulless. No emotional investment at all. Movie tries to explain time-reversing things and people and just fails at it. Bunch of characters are expositions and "you are looking for that guy/girl actually" transitions between dialogues. Compared to, let's say Interstellar or Inception, this movie is just boring and less interesting. There is less visual spectacle (apart from 2-3 scenes) and most of the time you don't understand what is going on. 2h 30 min feels like 4 hours, but ironically if it was 4 hours, probably would have had more explanations and reasons behind stuff that was happening. I saw this movie in theatre (In UK you can, with mask on). Out of 10 people on whole room, only 2 people said they liked it (I came with 5 others who I knew and asked other 4 what they thought). What a disaster.
Other than cinematography and actual non-CGI work put in to create this movie, I have nothing good to say. Really poor.

P.S: Amber Heard's acting is abysmal… Expand

3 of 9 users found this helpful36

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0

OlivierPielNov 28, 2020

Dumb.Dull.Pretentious. A rare combination indeed. Worst "blockbuster" of this century yet.

8 of 26 users found this helpful818

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AaronJupiterSep 17, 2020

Nolan movies are all lacking character developement and emotions. They are like a designer couch nobody wants to sit on, because at first glance it looks extraordinary, but the more you look at it you think it’s all concept and function butNolan movies are all lacking character developement and emotions. They are like a designer couch nobody wants to sit on, because at first glance it looks extraordinary, but the more you look at it you think it’s all concept and function but what’s most important isn’t there: it isn’t emotional and doesn’t touch your heart! Christopher Nolan movies are all pseudo intellectual! He tries to be so smart and intelligent that he forgets that feelings and emotions make a good movie and when it’s smart and clever it will be a very good movie. When you don’t care about the protagonists in a movie anymore the director has failed. To carry this metapher further inTenet Christopher Nolan showed everybody again that he is able to design a sofa that’s maybe different and unusual, but he fails to make it comfy and desirable.… Expand

7 of 23 users found this helpful716

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0

eagleeyevikingDec 25, 2020

"Tenet" is the first misfire from Christopher Nolan. The plot is pretentious, the characters all distant, and the dialogue intentionally vague. The film thinks that it is the smartest film of all time, when it cannot even explain itself. In"Tenet" is the first misfire from Christopher Nolan. The plot is pretentious, the characters all distant, and the dialogue intentionally vague. The film thinks that it is the smartest film of all time, when it cannot even explain itself. In the end, the film becomes nothing and leaves zero impact.… Expand

2 of 7 users found this helpful25

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3

kirkenderDec 16, 2020

Tenet is real bad. It is actually a very straightforward James Bond style action movie, but instead of one-liners and sex scenes we have a half-boiled attempt to explain entropy and time-inversion. John David Washington is wonderful, evenTenet is real bad. It is actually a very straightforward James Bond style action movie, but instead of one-liners and sex scenes we have a half-boiled attempt to explain entropy and time-inversion. John David Washington is wonderful, even though his character is a blank slate. Robert Pattinson is great, even though he's mostly just a plot device. Kenneth Branagh chews the scenery as usual, and his 'russian' accent is inconsistent and silly. Elizabeth Debicki is great, it's too bad she was written as an empty shell who only speaks in relation to her husband and son. The music is well done, if a little heavy handed especially when attempting to build tension. Tenet is 2 1/2 hours long and is crazy boring, the actual time bending fun happens at 1 1/2 hours and by that point I was so stir crazy it was underwhelming. The gimmick of it being mirrored is a fun idea that's been done better in literature and other actual sci-fi. It's all a big waste of time and is a dumb movie that poses as being smart.… Expand

2 of 7 users found this helpful25

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1

ZaganEDFNov 16, 2020

What a barely coherent mess. Plot is so weak and all characters one dimensional. The director just wanted to showcase us how technically cool he is with mixed timelines. Bravo!

2 of 7 users found this helpful25

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3

fanfan777Nov 22, 2020

I decided to give it 3 stars thanks to the score, which, even though it wasn’t Zimmer’s, I personally absolutely loved. I don’t think the film would go far without it, as the plot seems overstretched, overcrowded with unbelievableI decided to give it 3 stars thanks to the score, which, even though it wasn’t Zimmer’s, I personally absolutely loved. I don’t think the film would go far without it, as the plot seems overstretched, overcrowded with unbelievable explanations apparently based on Quantum physics mentioned a couple of times, but nothing really seems to add up. The theory of Inverted Mouvements in the film is just not supported by what we undeserving and then see. Typical, action packed Hollywood film, packed with stereotypes; it actually seems like a propaganda film that further pushes our society into polarization and glorifies cultural ignorance. “It’s a Cold War, cold as ICE. “ Wow.that’s BIG...… Expand

2 of 7 users found this helpful25

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0

GroovyBBJan 2, 2021

Absurdly inconsistent. No. of gaps in logic equals no. of cheesy dialogues.

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

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0

judahjsnDec 21, 2020

Disappointing, pretentious film. Nolan has leaned into and doubled down on the most frustrating aspects of his recent work: unintelligible dialogue and plot that folds under the weight of of careful thought (the reason we're rushed through itDisappointing, pretentious film. Nolan has leaned into and doubled down on the most frustrating aspects of his recent work: unintelligible dialogue and plot that folds under the weight of of careful thought (the reason we're rushed through it in the first place). It's annoying that Nolan has branded himself as a crusader of a lost cinematic experience. His films are no longer designed to be appreciated in an initial viewing but are to be dissected with internet research and discussion and then re-viewed multiple times in home viewing to achieve resonance. This means he's not really a champion of cinema at all, he's just created a pretentious Third Way in which the first step of this multi-media, meta method of seeing a movie takes place with the investment of time and money that go into showing up to see a movie at a theater. Why anybody would expect others to make this investment, knowing that moviegoers will be denied a complete and satisfying experience, is anybody's guess.… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

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0

Will00028Dec 26, 2020

what a boring and stupid movie...

if want to just make some cool action scenes at least put some plot behind it...that makes some sense

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

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0

Day2day48Jan 15, 2021

Loud music, hollow plots and extremely tedious! But for viewers who suffer from insomnia: good news!!! You might be cured at any point watching the movie! Go ahead, rent the movie and sweet dreams!

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

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3

teatomAug 17, 2021

The dialogue in Tenet is much like the positive reviews for the movie; So desperate to offer insight, and meaning, that they go on for twice as long as they should, only to find they have still said nothing worth hearing.
Unfortunately, TenetThe dialogue in Tenet is much like the positive reviews for the movie; So desperate to offer insight, and meaning, that they go on for twice as long as they should, only to find they have still said nothing worth hearing.
Unfortunately, Tenet is mostly empty dialogue, from start to finish. There's a small, interesting idea here. 'Your perspective on time is just one, of many, here, let Nolan show you more.'
It's not unlike, 'what if people could enter and alter your dream? Let Nolan show you more.'
The major difference, here, between Tenet and Inception, is that Inception was a finished script, doubtlessly re-written many times, to ensure it's both legible and fun, all the way through. Tenet has not had even a first of second pass. It has not had a good writer come along and say "Hey, Chris, why are you telling instead of showing. This is boring. Let's start again, without all the exposition that goes nowhere and try and craft a more interesting story around your central concept."
The entire movie feels like Nolan is stuck, writing page, after page, after page of exposition, to try and explain the story to an editor or producer, but they just got so bored, they turned around and said **** it, yeah, sounds great, Chris, do that, I trust you."
The result is massively bad.
Beyond bad, in fact, as it's the first unwatchable film Chris Nolan has made, which makes it disappointing, too. We can only blame ourselves. We thought he was incapable of making a bad movie, just as the studio clearly did, when they let him go ahead with such a poor screenplay.
The truth, of course, is never that complicated.
Sometimes people waffle and don't produce anything worth hearing, no matter who they are.… Expand

1 of 5 users found this helpful14

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CilvanisDec 30, 2020

Worst movie I ever seen in my life. Somehow worse than Pain & Gain. This **** is hot garbage.

1 of 14 users found this helpful113

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1

DexEngineerDec 8, 2020

I have no idea why this movie exists. A few action scenes does not justify long boring dialogs, even if they are most importance to the plot. Emotionless, boring movie. There are moments which look like cheap production. Give me my time back!

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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2

greedoinaspeedoDec 19, 2020

Big Christopher Nolan fan here. Really didn't enjoy this. I found the whole exercise to be a tiresome, nonsensical slog. As a huge fan of science fiction film and literature, I'm always excited to see a new take on the genre. I'm not one ofBig Christopher Nolan fan here. Really didn't enjoy this. I found the whole exercise to be a tiresome, nonsensical slog. As a huge fan of science fiction film and literature, I'm always excited to see a new take on the genre. I'm not one of the science fiction fans who dislikes anything fantastical or not 'hard sci-fi', in fact, some of those are my favorites. This however, takes nonsense to the next level. Its certainly a unique concept, but the headiness it proports itself to have is a mirage. In reality, the story is just a vehicle for a gimmick with some cool visual tricks, and it doesn't have the requisite internal logic to suspend disbelief in the slightest. This adds up to an extremely frustrating experience, which makes sense only on the most surface of levels, and takes itself dreadfully serious. If you peel back that surface level only a bit, you find a menagerie of convoluted **** that makes no sense whatsoever. It's as if they tried to hide how nonsensical the entire concept was, by making it all extra convoluted.

There's a pointed line of dialogue aimed at audience members who realize it doesn't make a lick of sense, "Don't try to understand it. Feel it." Well, to me, this FELT like a half-baked and lazily contrived film which should have spent another few years being properly conceptualized in the writer's room.

It's an extremely boring and frustrating experience, and I expected more.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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3

ScienceAdvisorDec 21, 2020

To mis-quote someone that gave this a 10, "If you do not understand it" then it does not mean it is due to this material being so intelligent that it is beyond you. Instead you are most likely not understanding it because it is wrong or aTo mis-quote someone that gave this a 10, "If you do not understand it" then it does not mean it is due to this material being so intelligent that it is beyond you. Instead you are most likely not understanding it because it is wrong or a mess of a script/edit. If time is reversed for you, then you exhale Oxygen and breath in Carbon Dixoxide. You do not need "special air". Also, driving a front wheel drive car backwards means you loose all the fine control as it is an actuated rear-wheel (front of car is pointing to the rear) drive vehicle. So weaving in and out of traffic would have you bouncing off cars half the time. Also a bullet fired in reverse does the same amount of damage, as it causes the same hole. Luckily most of the movie is spent in forwards, so it is somewhat enjoyable. Of course the whole thing breaks down when you ask why the bad guy did not know what was coming, considering he is getting messages from the future.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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3

ButtnessJul 19, 2021

I shouldn't have to tell myself to 'be patient for the story to come together' in the final absurd act

I don't WANT to have to watch it again

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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JeanBon69Jan 27, 2021

Very bad movie, does not make any sense at all... That's a waste of time..

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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3

JonDocDec 11, 2020

“What is this movie about? How is she still alive? She just got shot six times. What just happened? Who is the bad guy? Are they the bad guys? Is this about time travel? Or the reversal of time? Why is he wearing a mask? Is this about COVID?“What is this movie about? How is she still alive? She just got shot six times. What just happened? Who is the bad guy? Are they the bad guys? Is this about time travel? Or the reversal of time? Why is he wearing a mask? Is this about COVID? Why is he fighting himself? This movie is even more confusing than Inception. “

These are just some of the actual comments I heard while watching Tenet -Christopher Nolan’s latest blockbuster - a very clever, confusing and deeply frustrating film - perhaps the perfect movie for the madness and disappointment that is 2020. An expensive, very high concept testament to the clout Nolan currently carries in Hollywood right now since he’s allowed to make high brow blockbusters. Cue British accent “I know, let’s make a $250m movie and run the whole 2 and a half hours in reverse.’ The editor must be like WTF?
Nolan is a genius. Too clever me. Maybe I’ll enjoy this more on a second viewing, but is that a sign of a good movie? One that leaves the vast majority of the audience confused? Clarity of narration is key to enjoyability. Washington and Branagh’s performances are brilliant but, can we all fast forward to the future please! Roll on 2021 so we can watch the all the proper blockbusters that got deferred. (On the big screen as Nolan rightly says)… Expand