Before it debuted to mixed reviews and controversy about the nature of its release, I was very excited about Christopher Nolan's new movie Tenet. The film's mysterious trailer promised the kind of mind bending plot, incredible in-camera stunts and cool style which have all become trademarks for the director.
As a black movie fan, I was especially excited about the casting of John David Washington in the lead role (with bigger A-list name Robert Pattison in the second banana role). Nolan had decent diversity and representation in his past films (Morgan Freeman in the Batman movies comes to mind) but this is his first film with a person of color at its center -- and a rising, untested star to boot.
I've already heard some folks describe Tenet as the black James Bond we've all been waiting for -- and I'm here for it. I've seen the backlash too, not so much to the Washington or his performance, but the overall tone and content of the film, which many find more superficial than satisfying.
I am trying mightily to avoid any spoilers for the film which I am sure features several big twists and has something to do with time travel. It's hard because there are no theaters open here in NYC but there are in other parts of the country, so a lot of people have seen the nearly 3-hour epic, and it's impossible to keep anything under wraps these days.
It opened to a respectable $20 million this past weekend, especially considering the fact that we are in the midst of a pandemic and some of the biggest markets in the country remain closed. It's really a testament to Nolan's brand and excitement around this movie that it did as well as it did.
And I'm rooting for it because I want the moviegoing experience, the traditional one, to come roaring back. I've made no secret about the fact that there is nothing I miss more from the before-times (after being able to embrace my friends and family up close) than going to the movies.
But I also have tremendous anxiety about returning to what would almost certainly be a cesspool for infectious disease. Quite frankly, I feel like the producers of Tenet, its studio and Nolan are taking a tremendous risk by rolling it out now, especially if their film is held responsible for any outbreaks.
I assume theaters that are open are taking plenty of precautions -- checking temperatures, requiring masks -- but how do you really prevent the spread of covd in an enclosed space with a crowd of people?
I did venture out to a drive-in this past weekend, and it was wonderful (we saw the original Robocop) but other than drive ins -- which depend on friendly weather circumstances -- I don't know what we're going to do.
Wonder Woman 1984 and No Time to Die are waiting in the wings, as are a bunch of of other would-be blockbusters that I remain very excited to see, so there is a lot riding on whether Tenet sinks or soars. So on one level I want it to be a hit, even if I feel like it's probably too risky at this moment for me to try and go see it.
Our country has rushed to return to noble way too quickly in so many facets of American life (bars, schools etc.) that it has only made it harder for us to have the movies again. Imagine if we had stayed on lockdown a little longer and had a universal mask requirement. We might not be where we are right now.
But of course Donald Trump is president, so why would do anything right when it comes to any crisis?
No comments:
Post a Comment