Christopher Nolan’s upcoming movie, Tenet is his most ambitious project ever. The real reason why we love Nolan’s films is not just because of the kind of stories he tells using crazy sci-fi elements. But the main reason why his sci-fi movies in particular work is because all of them are grounded and have a sense of realism which is achieved through practical filming. When things are done well practically, they obviously look much better than whatever wonders CGI & green screen are able to accomplish together.
Practical filming & real stunt work is why Tom Cruise’s Mission: Impossible franchise is the best. It is why Terminator: Judgement Day is a classic & is still rated as one of the best action movies ever. And, it is also why Nolan is so well respected for his films. It’s just unlucky for us that Tenet is coming at a time when the entire world won’t be able to enjoy it as they were supposed to. The movie will be releasing from August 26 to September 18 in around 70 countries. But it will surely be spoiled for countries like Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, India, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Uruguay, and Venezuela, where it hasn’t got an approval for a release.
Nolan has a massive fanbase worldwide. So many of them will be disappointed when they won’t be able to watch a film that is so ambitious and is truly one of its kind. Why is it one of its kind? Well, first of all, that’s because of its plot. Even after seeing so many trailers, we’re still not exactly sure as to what this movie is actually about. Here, check out the synopsis. I bet you still won’t be able to make out any more than 3-4 elements.
“Armed with only one word – Tenet – and fighting for the survival of the entire world, the Protagonist journeys through a twilight world of international espionage on a mission that will unfold in something beyond real time. Not time travel. Inversion.”
Hollywood is obsessed with Time Travel. The early part of the last decade was dedicated to sky beams, and the latter half was dedicated to stories involving universal genocide. But, Time Travel is an element that been used since forever. It is not trend or a phase, but films have certainly began to involve time travel more & more. And now, Nolan seems to have taken the concept, and twisted it to create something entirely new.
Apart from the story involving World War III & Time Inversion, you’d be excited to know how Nolan shot this movie practically, without any use of Green Screens whatsoever. And on top of that, several scenes were shot twice – “once forwards” and “once with the actors doing everything backward.” This info comes from Film fan ljwr_Lewis, who took to Twitter to reveal the several details that he learnt about the filming of Tenet.
So, all the inversion scenes that we’d be following in the film will be shot for real. The footage won’t be going in reverse. Well, maybe some of it might not have been shot backward as this kind of filmography would be tough to follow with sequences like the one where a car is seen inverting and then rewinding in an instant. But still, it’s commendable to note that Nolan went the extra mile for most of the inversion scenes. And, the fact that every action sequence & explosion was done & shot practically is just a bonus for us. I mean, they rammed a freakin’ plane into a compound for real. It’s amazing to just think about it. Imagine what would happen when we finally get to watch the film.
Let’s hope that those who won’t have the option to watch this film in the theatres would somehow get a second way. Yes, it is meant to be watched in theatres (in IMAX), but it is even more important for us to be able to watch the film before it gets spoiled. Let’s see if WB would provide a way for us like Disney has done with Mulan.
