28 A&E - Movies October 30, 2020 Luke Lee TENET Reporter In 2020, Christopher Nolan returned to the of the film. large screen in his bold espionage thriller, Tenet. While the film’s visuals are praised, the A time-heist film, Nolan looks to embellish his execution of its complex storyline have left most fascination with time by crafting a narrative that audiences and critics baffled. EJ Moreno, Executive is focused deeply on using time as a weapon. Producer of the UK’s film blog Flickering Myth, The focus of the film centers around “The considers Tenet to be “a complex, puzzling Protagonist” (John David Washington), a CIA adventure” but “a puzzle with only 150 pieces." As agent, who comes across a situation on a mission many believed the plot itself was very difficult to that changes his mind set on the world and its follow, most audiences were frustrated with how threats. When “The Protagonist” learns after the the film’s presentation of the plot added another mission that his past identity is no longer valid layer of confusion. The swift pace of the film did and belongs to the secret organization Tenet, he not make the story easier to follow and neither did must take on a different mindset of the world to the musical score. Grant Vu (11) struggled “to tell fulfill his new mission to prevent the past from what was happening” as “the Music was blaring being destroyed. In order to better understand [too] loud over the scenes." With a storyline too the threat, The Protagonist’s main objective complex and a musical score that did not always fit, becomes to enlist the help of Kat (Elizabeth the character often felt distant from the audience. Debicki), whose husband is the Russian Oligarch Garth Franklin, editor and movie critic of Dark Andrei Sator (Kenneth Branagh). Sator’s grasp Horizons, considered the actors to be “solid talents” on the technology to manipulate timelines allows but “struggle to breathe life into a film already him to invert objects and travel through periods overstuffed and whittled down” for no “time for any of time that have not occurred. The Protagonist natural humanity to flow though it." must grow closer to Sator in order to understand Although the film lacks in its story execution and stop the sinister intentions he has for our for first time viewing audiences, most of Nolan’s world. films are not designed for one viewing. Nolan’s The thrilling and intricate plot of the film is past film’s such as Inception, Interstellar, and supported by its groundbreaking cinematography even The Dark Knight are films that require and visuals. Nolan’s fervent passion to use multiple viewings for an audience to truly grasp limited visual effects and computer-generated and appreciate. The production of Tenet was not to imagery seeps through the impressive spectacle provide a one-time view picture that audiences can of the film. When audiences see the plane crash, simply enjoy, but a film with different intentions. they are witnessing a real plane crashing into Nolan looks to provide an experience that will leave the airport. As most of the picture was filmed by Image Courtesy of Google Images a greater depth into the minds of the audience. IMAX cameras, Nolan immerses the audience He wants us to claw at the film’s mysteries and into the action sequences and settings through dig deeper into what connects the stories of each the clarity of each scene. Brian Tallerico, believes “it’s an impressive film to experience” character. He wants us to puzzle the pieces together President of the Chicago film Critics Association, through the “gorgeous widescreen cinematography” and see the beauty within the complexities. Zack Henson Hubie Halloween Reporter comes off as obtuse and unnecessary today. Puscemi, Julie Bowen, Maya Rudolph, Michael Though the first few minutes gave me a bad Chiklis, Kenan Thompson, and Shaquille O’Neal. initial impression, the rest of the movie was more I’m sure there were some I missed, but the point bearable, but still pretty mediocre. Nivetha is that none of these cameos added anything to Jaganathan (9) recounted the movie as “pretty the movie. They didn’t make it funnier, they didn’t boring” and “not one of Sandler’s best films.” The make it better. If anything, they detracted from majority of the movie takes place on Halloween the movie. I was less focused on the plot, and more night, where a mysterious figure is kidnapping focused on my “Where’s Waldo” search to find the various townsfolk. Hubie is on the case, and must next big actor. These cameos diluted what could’ve figure out the killer’s identity before anyone gets been a more entertaining story if the movie gave hurt. It’s a simple and overused premise, but if used bigger rolls to new actors. right it can lead to some memorable moments. This Like I said before, I didn’t hate the movie. The Image Courtesy of Google Images- movie did not use it right. Even though the meat basic story was bland, and the outdated comedy fell of the story kicked off during Halloween night, it short. The overwhelming number of cameos led to This movie is fine. I didn’t like it, nor did I pro- ended up being pretty forgettable. the movie feeling more alienated, instead of being foundly hate it. However, this does not stop Hubie This movie postures itself as a comedy, more intimate with a cast of new actors. However, Halloween from being bland and forgettable. The although I never laughed out loud. The most the among all that mediocrity, there was still something first few minutes of the film were much worse than movie got out of me was a sincere chuckle. Connor I enjoyed about this movie. IndieWire describes the rest of the film, which isn’t saying much. I was Martin (11) says that “the film was enjoyable in that “as confused as this movie can be in regard to introduced to Hubie Dubois, Sandler’s take on a the fact that it was very unfunny,” and that overall its underlying message,” the movie had “its heart slow, yet charming guy. The New York Times de- “it was just hard to watch.” Throughout the movie in the right place.” I agree with that statement. The scribes Hubie as a “proudly regressive role for [San- there are a few running gags. One of them is the movie, while cheesy, was charming sometimes. In dler].” Like many of his other characters, Sandler various contraptions that Hubie can fit inside his fact, that perfectly sums up Hubie’s character arc. uses a weird voice, which doesn’t add anything of thermos. He uses the thermos as a grappling hook, Cheesy, yet charming. It definitely isn’t enough to value to the film. After I was introduced to Sandler’s flashlight, blender, pepper spray, and many more. save the whole film, but it made me not despise it. character, I quickly learned that the town despises Another running gag is the thrift shop shirts that Sandler may be known as the actor who plays the him. Kids ride on bikes and throw various objects Hubie’s mom (played by June Squibb) wears. They dumb and quirky characters, but he’s really nailed at him and his coworkers pull pranks that scare him often contain some crude joke, and are one of the down the human and emotional element to all of half to death. The movie harkens back to the 80’s only things to make me chuckle. Also scattered them. and 90’s with its plethora of slapstick. However, throughout the movie are numerous cameos. The while that humor might’ve worked for the time, it ones I caught were Ben Stiller, Tim Meadows, Steve .