“Tenet” (Science Fiction/Action: 2 hours, 30 minutes)

Starring: John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki and Kenneth Branagh

Director: Christopher Nolan

Rated: PG-13 (Intense sequences of violence and action, some suggestive references and brief strong language)

 

Movie Review: Director-writer Christopher Nolan is a talented filmmaker. He gave audiences good screenplays such as “Memento” (2000), “The Dark Knight” (2008), “Inception” (2010) and “Dunkirk” (2017). 

“Memento” set the stage for “Inception” and both prerequisites for “Tenet,” another masterful photoplay by Nolan.

John David Washington plays a Central Intelligence Agency agent known as The Protagonist. The CIA agent finds himself part of a mission involving Russian oligarch Andrei Sator (Branagh), who is an arms dealer using time inversion. 

The use of this reversal of temporal mechanics gives Sator the ability of precognition. Armed with only the word Tenet, The Protagonist learns time inversion to stop Sator’s plan to cause world destruction.

Time travel in form is complicated, but Nolan makes good use of it.

Nolan’s work is cinematic art. His audience is a targeted group. He aims for the upper echelon of people who want to see art in movies with a good complex story with deeply motivated characters. Nolan provides art in the form of good visual effects, cinematography, solid acting and very original stories. 

The problem is the visual effects and complex stories can often be superfluous additions.

The visual effects, cinematography and creative stories of his movies are sure to garner awards for Nolan during award season. He has a following, and they love what they see. For good reasons, too. Nolan is masterful.

Nolan uses talented casts to create his stories. This outing he uses the gifted John David Washington, who rivals his father Denzel Washington’s skills. Washington is keen in this role. This is especially true with his interactions with Robert Pattinson and an elegantly engaging Elizabeth Debicki.

Washington is dynamic with Dimple Kapadia as an enigmatic figure who is a pivotal player of the plot. Kapadia nearly steals scenes with her regal demeanor. Of course, Kenneth Branagh is dependable as ever. He is an excellent antagonist to Washington’s protagonist. Branagh’s character is the deepest sculpted persona in “Tenet” and Branagh excels in the role.

The flashy visuals distract long enough that one forgets this movie is lengthy. Each scene’s use of visual effects creates diverting moments that compel the movie. Unless one has a good memory, this movie requires one to remember the subtle obvious. “Tenet” is one of those movies that requires watching it twice to observe what one did not see originally. Virtually, audiences need their version of time-reversal or at least a rewind key. 

While “Tenet” contains masterful visual effects like in “Inception,” “Tenet” is overly complicated. The complication exists with the fast pace at which the movie moves. Some scenes are quick moments. They are a few words and then loud action scenes, a repetitive process. 

Moviegoers may need to be time travelers to maintain a similar pace. This quick pace gives one little time to know the characters, minus Elizabeth Debicki and Kenneth Branagh who play an estranged married couple. 

A second point of interest is the M. Night Shyamalan syndrome. A director or screenplay writer finds a niche that plays well and exploits it in future movies. 

“Inception” and “Memento” had moments where their main characters have an epiphany at an apex moment of their plots. The same applies to the story in “Tenet” at a pivotal moment. The moments work brilliantly but appear recycled bits that rob fine screenplays of their full potential.

That noted, “Tenet” is still a good movie. It has all the merits of a good summer blockbuster and delivers.

Grade: B (Go see it if time is on your side.)

“Trolls World Tour” (Animation/Adventure/Music: 1 hour, 30 minutes)

Starring: Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake and Rachel Bloom

Directors: Walt Dohrn, David P. Smith

Rated: PG (Some rude humor)

 

Movie Review: “Trolls World Tour” is the sequel to “Trolls (Directors Mike Mitchell and Walt Dohrn, 2016). This sequel is not as catchy as its prequel, but its color palette, goofy appearing characters and plenty of adventurous antics are enough to entertain pleasantly for all members of the family in a light Game of Thrones-style plot. 

Barb (Bloom), the Queen of the Hard Rock Trolls, wants to rule over the six Troll kingdoms: Classical, Country, Funk, Pop, Rock and Techno. She also desires to destroy all music that is not Hard Rock. 

As Queen Barb conquers one kingdom after the next, Queen Poppy (Kendrick), Branch (Timberlake) and a few of the queen’s friends plan to stop Barb with hugs and other warm greetings to unify the Troll kingdoms. Poppy soon learns that hugs cannot solve every threat. 

The problem with many children’s movies is the characters lose their charm as sequels usually have more serious plots. This is true with “Trolls World Tour.”

The seriousness of these plots lessens the happy message that usually accompanied the prequels. Thus, the characters appear less happy and more serious about their growing obligations. Such is life, but movies aimed at younger audiences often lose that charm of innocence.

While this movie is not as happy as the 2016 movie, it still provides enough to make it useful for small fries and their parents. It has bright colored scenes and Trolls on an adventure. It also provides some laughs.

Grade: C+ (Still worth trolling, although not as gratifying as its prequel.)

 

Adann-Kennn Alexxandar lives and works in Valdosta. He may be reached at alexxandar-movies@email.com.