Film Review - Tenet (2020)

Man, it's been a while, and wouldn't you know it, we're still in this mess. But, that isn't stopping Christopher Nolan from rolling in with some fresh 70mm prints of his latest work to lead the reopening of movie theaters across the world, paving the way for further exposure..... and disappointment!

I like Nolan, I really do. I haven't seen all of his films, but what I have watched I've liked a great deal, especially the high and emotional tension of Dunkirk and the ingenious gimmick of Memento. Now we have Tenet, a film where time is key, as in time we'll never get back because of how dull it feels.

In all seriousness, the time within the film feels like a total waste. There are some genuinely well done parts of it in regards to plot points I won't spoil here, but for the most part it's crazy potential feels unrealized. We get some cool glimpses of it as I said, but it never goes beyond much that, feeling strangely surface level and ultimately adding up to very little satisfying payoff. It simply doesn't serve as an interesting plot device in most cases, seeming more like it's there to make the film seem incredibly cool as a means to lure audiences in... only to give them something far less compelling than one would hope.

If anything, the time is best done in the action scenes, which are certainly the best part of the film. Nolan still does a good enough job directing some good fights that are pretty and often interesting to watch with the said time aspect, and some very well-done, low key visual effects are present to boot. The score, this time by Black Panther's Ludwig Göransson, rather than Zimmer as is typical with Nolan, does a good job of fitting the mood and adding to the action.

I also must hand it to the cast, they do a good job of selling what they're given. No, not you Kenneth Branagh, you're just awful and horribly miscast. But, John David Washington does a solid enough job of leading the film, with Robert Pattinson making for good support. Though it's Elizabeth Debicki who shines the most here with a well-realized. It's just shame that they're all bogged down by what they have to work with... which is what leads me to the screenplay.

Nolan has always been seen as a better director than screenwriter, but his work for Tenet is just pathetic. All of the characters feel disposable, being incredibly underdeveloped to the point where there is no reason to care for them, with cliches and forced humor galore. They simply serve as a means for their to be a plot, and no interesting character or well-developed emotional depth were given to them in turn.

It worsens an already weak experience by taking what doesn't work to being with and adding another poor piece to it. In turn, everything around is overshadowed by what should be elevating it. Plenty of nicely executed work on the technical side seems put off to the side to satisfy an underwhelming narrative that simply doesn't deserve it. That, my friends, it what we call a true waste of... talent... and a lot of time!

So, there you have it. A Christoper Nolan film that is all show and no tell. It gives you something cool to look at, yet there is hardly anything interesting about it. As a result, much of the film's strengths are hidden behind the deeply undercooked aspects that should've made Tenet a true knockout. But instead we get a film that offers a glimpse at something that could've been truly fascinating, and it lands flat on its face thinking that it's brilliant as it sounds. Such a shame.

Final Grade: C-

Film Review - Boys State (2020)

States from across the country gather up a multitude of 17-year-old boys to participate in Boys State, in which they work to form two separate political parties and work against each other to create a government similar to what's seen in the United States, if not better (which isn't difficult).

This documentary, simply titled Boys State, records just that, teenage boys from Texas acting as politicians to help their new party reach the top. It serves as not only a compelling look at some of the boys' efforts, but also as an interesting examination of political appeal.

From its opening moments, the film does a great job at getting the viewer to be compelled by these boys. It's quick with showing who the main ones it follows are, and tells you everything you need to know about them, while also giving off hints of the challenges they'll face along the way. It does a great job of developing their personalities so they can give the audience a reason to root for them on their election journey.

And the energy seen in these boys is wholly entertaining. The ways they gain their credibility among their piers can be a treat; from using joke issues to keep those they need to impress most engaged, to having memes be their primary source of campaigning, it's hard not to find enjoyment in their efforts to make it big and their various interactions with one another.

Those interactions are grounded firmly in advancing their own political agenda. Much of this even involves covering up what they really believe, as the majority of the boys are conservative, meaning that some are forced into pushing for causes they dislike, effectively illustrating the complications of appealing to others. And, fortunately, it never becomes preachy, finding a nice middle-ground making it clear that these boys all have their own beliefs that they still respect while trying to still make it big.

The way they treat each other shows the power of this more so, with attacks each side throws at the other finding mixed results, with some succeeding with how their party finds justice in the decision, and others failing with ones that seem purely like moves to advance it. But in the end, it all goes back to how the boys connect to each other, showing how they grow to appreciate one another despite their disagreements and how to respect them also.

Boys State in the end makes for a great watch as both a coming of age and politically insightful experience that knows what it is and has a fun time with it. I understand that not everyone will find young men talking about politics to be particularly enjoyable, but it stills makes for a strong look at a program that's gotten people politically involved for years.

Final Grade: A-