Tenet: Most critics praise Christopher Nolan for ‘mindbending’ blockbuster

Christopher Nolan’s Tenet has not only been paid as his latest blockbuster, but also as the film that could save cinemas in 2020.

So no pressure then – and now the first reviews are in.

Critics have described it as anything from a “mind-bending wonder” to “a dud”.

The episode of the fantasy spy was originally debuted in cinemas in the UK on 17 July, but was postponed (several times) after 26 August due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Some cinema chains, such as Vue, which reopened this month with Social Distance, have even planned their return to the title.

But is it good?

• Will Gompertz review the email of Christopher Nolan ★★★★ ☆

The Guardian did not think the film itself was worth the wait, as was the hype, which gave it two stars out of five. “Christopher Nolan’s thriller is a palindromic dud,” Catherine Shoard wrote.

However, she noted how the importance of her attempts to get bums back on seats during a global pandemic would ultimately outweigh the critic’s score.

“When the Inception director’s long-awaited sci-fi begins the summer of cinema again, it will decline as his finest hour. But Tenet is far from his finest work.”

The Daily Telegraph, on the other hand, plummeted for many markets – five out of five. Writer Robbie Collin asked viewers, “Try not to get it – just play back and enjoy the ride.”

He wrote: “The time-consuming action Christopher Nolan is the perfect film to get us back in cinemas – one viewing will simply not be enough.”

‘Mythical status’

Screen Daily meanwhile said the film had already reached “almost mythical status” for the plan to roll it out internationally wherever cinemas open new week, before its US release.

“It is certainly a film for the occasion and it is to be hoped that it will raise a rallying cry for audiences to return to socially distant seats,” wrote Fionnuala Halligan.

“Some may be disappointed that it’s not narratively associated with Inception, and it lacks the pyrotechnics of that 2010 film. It’s a dream trip, though, for the most part, for anyone looking for glitzy escapism, and who would not include themselves in that demographic now? “

The 152-minute film focuses on The Protagonist, played by John David Washington, trying to save the world from disaster. His cast also includes Robert Pattinson, Sir Kenneth Branagh and Elizabeth Debicki.

Tenet’s performance in the office will be seen as an indicator of the public’s willingness to return to the socially-distant cinema. The other big August version, Disney’s Mulan, has now gone straight to home viewing via Disney +.

‘His Own Bond Movie’

Movie website Empire opted for four stars, with writer Alex Godrey explaining that “Nolan made his own Bond movie here, borrowed everything he likes from it, everything he does not make, then Nolaning it all up”.

The same score was awarded by Nola Ojomu, who explained in The Metro that the film “thinks of time”.

She wrote: “Christopher Nolan’s Tenet is another mind-bending wonder that delves into the intricacies of physics while delivering a fast-paced action thriller.”

Finally, the NME Nolan crowned the “king of cerebral blockbusters”.

“While it’s sometimes hamstrung by clumsy dialogue – a necessary evil, perhaps, given how much Nolan has to explain – Tenet is rarely less than exciting to watch,” Nick Levine suggested.

“It’s a challenging, ambitious and really original film full of compelling performances – Washington and Debicki are especially excellent – which confirms Nolan as the master of the cerebral blockbuster. And if you can, you need to put this visually stunning film on a big screen view. “

Follow us on Facebook, as on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts. If you have an email with a story suggestion [email protected].