Tenet Review: 4 Ups & 6 Downs

1. The Core Concept Is Original & Enticing

As far as I know - and again, no spoilers - I don't think anyone has made a movie quite like this.

It's very much depicting the element of time in a way that goes against how we conceive it. In the video game space, Jonathan Blow's Braid dove head-first into theories on chronology itself being playable, creating puzzles that required you rethink cause, effect and object permanence.

Tenet then, rolls together various "pop culture" theorems that often get bandied about online as fun talking points, creating this "mass audience science romp" that hopefully a lot of people can resonate with.

To say which theorems Nolan is pulling from would give things away, but if The Martian was a ringing endorsement of botanical studies and in-the-field practical solutions to humankind's survivalist woes, Tenet does the same for the theoretical science and all things mind-bending.

At least... that's the idea.