For those unfamiliar with my cinema review of Tenet, I’ll summarize my position: I found the film disappointing. This assessment is perhaps more critical given that it originates from one of my favorite directors. Christopher Nolan has established himself with several modern classics, including both Inception and Interstellar, which reside on my personal list of top-tier films. Therefore, the question arises: what went wrong?
Prior to reviewing the UHD 4K release, I rewatched Tenet. Expanding on points raised in my initial cinema review, I’d like to offer additional specific examples to illustrate my concerns regarding the film’s narrative coherence.
The film’s opening eight minutes are, in fact, exceptionally well-executed. Here, Nolan operates at his peak. The audience is effectively drawn into the narrative, and the film’s core concept is introduced with both style and intrigue. Subsequently, the narrative begins to falter. Approximately eight and a half minutes in, the protagonist is depicted tied to a chair within a railway yard, with trains passing in close proximity. The selection of this location appears driven solely by visual appeal, as it strains credulity to imagine that train operators wouldn’t alert authorities upon witnessing individuals being tortured. Alternatively, if the trains are automated within an alternate reality, a visual cue indicating this deviation from reality would be warranted.
A further instance of questionable narrative choices arises approximately 23 minutes into the film during the invasion of the arms dealer’s residence in India. After the characters kill two guards and hold the husband at gunpoint, the subsequent scene depicts them casually conversing with the arms dealer as if in friendly circumstances. This abrupt transition lacks logical consistency. This pattern continues throughout the film.
However, dwelling solely on the film’s shortcomings would unduly extend this review. I must also acknowledge that I have reviewed all the MCU movies…
The UHD edition of Tenet, conversely, achieves a level of technical excellence that the film itself does not. The visual presentation is exceptionally sharp and clear, with outstanding clarity and deep black levels. Colors are vibrant, and Hoyte van Hoytema’s cinematography lends the image a near three-dimensional quality in its 4K transfer. While a Dolby Atmos soundtrack is absent, the DTS-HD Master Audio track is nonetheless impactful. The DTS mix exhibits impressive dynamic range, resulting in a powerfully immersive audio experience, particularly during the climactic battle sequence. Although the film’s narrative flaws persist, the visual and auditory elements are technically flawless. This is, technically, one of the best releases I’ve reviewed, surpassing many others.
The release also includes a feature-length documentary examining all facets of Tenet, from script development to final production. This documentary provides a thorough and informative overview of the production process. It is somewhat ironic that those involved repeatedly emphasize their uncertainty during the process, which is arguably reflected in the final product.
In conclusion, Tenet remains a disappointing film due to its unrealized potential. While the exceptional UHD edition elevates the overall presentation, the film’s inherent flaws limit its recommendation to a conditional one. While it may provide entertainment for some, this requires a complete suspension of disbelief and a disinterest in narrative coherence.
It’s worth noting that the film itself seems to anticipate this critique, as a character states approximately fifteen minutes in: ” Don’t try to understand it…”
