Christopher Nolan On TENET - The Full Interview 

The questions you picked were actually great. Chris had to answer them in a way that gave us the insight of his work like never before.

Once inverted, people would never exist in their first/initial version which has essentially become their future which itself moves along with its own pace. As people can always move back in time, people can never move ahead in future via time-jumps, so if someone keeps inverting him/herself (even re-inverting in past), they are essentially removing them from future

@@armish4197 No, because what happens happens. There is no free will in this movie.

I'm sorry but TENET is a complete MISFIRE... and of all the other CHRISTOPHER NOLAN HEAD-SCRATCHER MOVIES out there, this takes the Crown (from Inception). To understand why, I encourage you to watch a great TIME TRAVEL MASTERPIECE by Terry Gilliam, called 12 MONKEYS which stars BRUCE WILLIS (with a small but very memorable part by BRAD PITT). 12 MONKEYS has the same BASIC RULES for Time Travel as TENET - which is that Time CANNOT be Altered, and what you are seeing on Screen is basically a slice of TIME that has already happened and remains intact on the SPACE-TIME CONTINUUM. We as the AUDIENCE are merely witnessing that slice of time in our REAL TIME... In 12 MONKEYS no matter what the Protagonist (Bruce Willis) does to try and change the FUTURE (a virus has wiped out most of Humanity forcing the remnants to live underground) it only goes to solidify what has already happened, and to the grim realization of Willis... shows that he is merely a part of the chain of eventuality that leads to the Future from which he was sent and trying to alter. Once again, the rules of TIME TRAVEL is that you cannot change time... and if you go back into the past, you are merely part of that ETERNAL TIMELINE that always existed because your time travel event is also just part of TIME to begin with. This is the same for TENET... The only difference being that NOLAN immediately gives you this Reveal in the Opening Exposition, thus there is no REVEAL at the end... i.e. no payoff for the Audience... only a play through of what we already knew from the Beginning (if you were paying attention and not distracted by the beautiful Set Pieces and well choreographed Big Budget Fight Scenes). TENET's timeline has already occurred... and the World did not END, this is obvious otherwise there would be no world, no TENET organization, or Movie for that matter. Its Obvious that they succeeded even before the movie begun. All you are seeing is a Real Time playback of something that already concluded. So why does this make the TENET a flop (and not 12 MONKEYS)? Well because in 12 Monkeys, the movie does not Exposition the Rules of Time Travel at the beginning... it keeps you in suspense to the end and you are able to bond with and empathize with WILLIS' character as he tries with futility to try and change his Future only to realize that he can't. The horror of the Reveal is that TIME Cannot be CHANGED... The movie spends time developing WILLIS' character and the characters around him - showing the effects that Time Travel can have on a person's mind and psyche when going from a Dystopic Future back to the past when things were normal. There is even a point where he tries to deliberately sabotage his mission so he can escape and forget about the Future, and just be content to live out the short remaining time in the Past...only to be sucked back in because even those actions are part of what already happened. TENET on the otherhand does nothing for its Characters... You learn nothing about them, their motivations, their feelings, or even what they are trying to do other than they are caught in a plethora of confusing Bond Movie Action pieces where somethings play forward and the others play in reverse. JD Washington also has the acting ability of a Wooden Board, and has ZERO Chemistry with the 6 Foot Lady... There isn't even a reason for him to care about her, which would have been nice if there were some sort of On-Screen romance, instead he just starts caring for her for who knows why? There is also no UNCERTAINTY in the plot, no Twists, no sense of impending doom, or chance of Failure. Its like watching your clothes spin in a Clothes Dryer... you know eventually it will end, and at the end your clothes will be dry. TENET ties beginning scenes to ending scenes and claims that's the great reveal, but you don't feel satisfied at the end, or even emotionally moved, because if you really were paying attention you would know this before from the Exposition at the beginning... but those not smart enough to figure it out at the beginning are probably too dumb to understand the convoluted plot in the first place, and if they liked it, they only probably did for the dazzling mindless Action scenes. To be Honest, this Movie would have been better as a BOND MOVIE, and for all of you who wanted a BLACK JAMES BOND... this is kinda what it would have looked like... And to be doubly honest this movie would have probably done much better at the BOX OFFICE if they kept it without the TIME INVERSION GIBBERISH.

@@annoyboyPictures Interesting opinion. For me, Neil's journey is the most interesting part of the movie and what lays ahead in the future of the movie, not inversion. This movie isn't primarily about the inversion I dont think, thats why he shows you at the beginning because it isn't meant to be the big reveal you hoped, comparing it to another movie where that might be the case. The big reveal is the relationship between Neil and JD it would seem. I felt inversion is just a part of it, like a character, even from trailers we see it so to expect a reveal of the time concept as a surprise will obviously dissappoint. The story and relationship is more at the forefront of this movie even though the story isn't compelling nor well explained (I do agree there was no chemistry with JD and the woman and the sudden caring of her was bit of a stretch). Also, Nolan would class this as a "spy" movie more so than a time travel movie which is mentioned in his interviews. Will definitely check out 12 monkeys though, it sounds good.

I liked that too

Dude agreed, 100% totally agreed man - I truly appreciate this master of his craft, a great blessing to us all in my personal opinion.

Yet he’s asked very specific questions about the movie which implies some level of spoil 🤣??

That’s how he secures his bottom line

Or maybe he spoiled the movie at the same time we were watching it but at the end of the movie we didn't u understand but the beginning of it we did. Wait... All I know is this movie is so fucking confusing. Christopher Nolan has become the Hideo Kojima of film. Just an over complicative story.

Underrated comment

Indeed.

Lol

@@giancarlocafaro6734 it's actually an overrated comment in reverse entropy

Can't wait for The Dark Knight Resurrection

I’ll admit. The fight sequences must have been challenging. But I just didn’t find it engaging beyond the spectacle of the movements. Because I was just wondering why the hell any of it mattered to the plot. This film could have been executed without the time travel gimmick or the IMAX and it would have benefited. IMO Nolan had no patience to explain why he wanted travel to matter to the story. He had plot points, when the scientist in the beginning has a chance to explain the significance of time travel, she says “just go with it” lol.

Visually it was really cool, but the sound effects were barely present when they were landing punches. Made it seem like more of a rehearsal

@@skyfryer1223 spot on. To me he had ideas for great camera effects and sequences then worked a plot around it. the movie effectively did the pseudo intellectuals trick of speaking really fast and grandiose but when you slow it down and examine it, it's just bolloxs. some of the dialogue was nearly inaudible and that was deliberate.

Tenet was another Nolan masterpiece, its sad that people dont get it or appreciate what this man has done for cinema. I havent watched all his movies yet but the one i have have such a depth to it.

@@gomguppie2 I watched memento again on the weekend and realized something. The movie has a lot of plot holes but also made me realise the experience during the movie if you just put away the full on analysis brain, its an experience like nothing other.

Dunkirk, interstellar then inception and dark knight :)

No, he is first going to work on a movie called "Dunkirk", maybe hire Matthew for a space related movie that he has planned with this brother and Kip Thorne. Leonardo is so far man! I heard rumours of him planning on a movie about dreams and human subconscious with psychologists for research and accuracy. But Leonardo... Sheesh! Not possible. Let's see what's going to be his first project after Tenet.

@@meettheartist5506 Were going backwards in time so there’s no rumors...only finished movies that you would watch backwards until you have no memory ever watching them

They need to do Batman beyond with Christian bale and Robert Pattinson

(: sregnab doog yllaer ekil sregnab ereht dna seivom esoht was I ?sdrawkcab ruoy ho -ahW

And somehow people love to watch shitty remakes and media loves to give recognition to those shitty movies. Tenet has originality. This movie is more for art.

Don't get me wrong, I love Nolan, but do you honestly believe he nearly saved Hollywood American Cinema with that convoluted spectacle?

@@davidbeverly6411 nearly is the key word, as in not really but Tenet is so interesting with it's practical effects it brings a certain magic back to the cinema that was waning. Do you really believe American Cinema isn't hurting? Even Nolan is annoyed that streaming is attempting to overshadow going to the theater.

@@davidbeverly6411 I am from India...I drove 125 kms...3 districts, crossed state border to watch Tenet because the theaters in my state are yet to open due to pandemic. I wouldn't have done that for any other cinema including Wonder Woman 1984...It's only because of this man - Christopher Nolan!! There was an option to download and watch...But NO...for this man...I am ready to drive all that way to watch in Big Screen..and Big Screen only.

Tenet was Total garbage imo. Nolan lost all credit from me.

same here

Agree, though many other recent filmmakers who have proven their unique mastery as well. S. Craig Zahler, Yorgos Lanthimos, Ari Aster, Robert Eggers, Denis Villeneuve and Josh & Benny Safdie. Also, Brandon Cronenberg who just released Possessor [Uncut]. I finally saw it recently, and another of my most anticipated movies of the year along with Tenet, and nearly flawless, unbearably tense and visceral, haunting cerebral terror, one of the best Dark Sci-Fi Horror Thrillers I've seen in a while!

@@brentulstad3275 great I’ll really check that out

@@brentulstad3275 Utterly paper-thin characters aren't an issue for you...? Nolan is all head, no heart.

@@avinashaiims2007 cool. I don't usually leave alot of comments on YT, but do appreciate any sincere or interested reply. I SHOULD however mention briefly that Possessor is DEFINITELY not for everyone and could be recieved as too bleak, depressing or value-less. It is rather graphic and at times "unpleasant", more for the Arthouse horror fans & dark Sci-Fi thriller fans. I can at times forget that not everyone shares my tastes or insights on some genres. I do not want to say that anyone should or should not see any movie, but have gotten some unexpected push back or revulsion about this one. But I don't like building something up too much either. If one likes experimental scifi and dark, bleak, ambiguous horror then I don't think this one would be unappreciated.

Remember Sammy Jankis

@@JinKee Ayyyyy!

Come on farrier ,Why so serious? , What you do defines you , The fire rises.

@@JinKee LENNY !

*Bomb Noise*

If this is "scratching the surface", just tell what you need to go deeper...

Lol. He never likes to reveal more than he has to. Just like his films.

That would've been such a simple direct silly response. Relating the title to the themes of the film was much neater.

@@Nova-fh2et he did when explaining memento

It was the first thing he mentioned. He refers it as what it is. The ancient and oldest palindrome .

that would've been amazing but no way they'd be allowed to do that sadly

It hasn't happened yet

Outstanding! Excellent Idea!! Bravo 🙌 Bravo 👏 Bravo 🙌 Bravo 🎉

The world is not moving backwards, mate. It’s only the inverted person who is. So it wouldn’t make sense, right? :)

@@gamalyelg it would reveal that the viewer of the movie was him/herself inverted. 🤓

They havent looked up sator square.

@@namechef7344 no I have I just thought it would be funny if he actually said that

@@adamdavis358 no not you the person who asked the question. But yeah that would be funny

Besides the Sator square, 'Tenet' also refers to the ten minutes in the battle (back and forward).

Yeah that answer is obvious...its the sator square

That means he needs to overview himself more ?

for me its his best. no other movie deals with two characters having chosen death for their comrads sake, and finally one realizing he has to let the other character go to choose that. most emotional movie for me, ever.

Except Tenet is one of the greatest movies ever made

For me, Tenet is definitely his best in my opinion

@henry saro Your favorite Nolan film is probably The Prestige 😬😪

I feel bad for people that watch a Christopher Nolan movie once and form a negative opinion from it. I’ve seen Tenet 3 times and it gets better every time. Once you are not completely in shock from the crazy visuals, it gets easier to understand

My next film is called TEA. The reason for the title is because every time a character drinks a cup of tea the audience is ready to move on to the next question. The answer to which is EAT (which is an anagram of TEA). That's why I mixed up the story into a jumble so you have to rearrange the pieces to make sense of it. I also had all the characters EAT as they delivered their dialogue so that it was more "immersive" (and illegible) which spoke to the overall theme of the film (EATing) (and TEA) (sometimes they drink tea and speak at the same time) (in imax)

@@neilydee (in imax) 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Yes! Watched it 5 times. Something new everytime

It just gave me headache and wanted to watch inception instead, its ok but not exceptional

Curious about those acting flaws. Mind elaborating?

@@davids8127 because you’re a simpleton

👉👍👈

How’d you like it? I loved it!

@@sirunfunnyiv7600 It’s one of my favorites now. Especially seeing the making of it; it was incredible to see how they filmed it

Hilt shit i just realized that joker was an anonymous antagonist 😱 thanks mein

That's right that's why nolan is insisting that tenet should be watched in imax theatre so you can enjoy the experience and ao you ca be able to comprehend what the film is saying and the visuals itself.

I watch it when I’m bored. I watch it just to eat my dinner in 10 mins. I watch it on my phone getting ready for work lol

I think it's one of Nolan's weakest, most pretentious movies. I did really like Tenet though 🍻

@@mabusestestament "most pretentious"? why do you think so?

@@ihtemad preposterous. Interstellar is a masterpiece .

That’s exactly what I felt ... to me interstellar really didn’t feel that long I loved it tho... felt the opposite with tenet felt like it was only half way through and it was like 2 hours in

I completely agree. The first watch for me was also very overwhelming. I needed a break, and then I rewatched it twice after just so I could catch more details😉🤓🧠💡

I'd prefer a movie U can watch over and over again than one U watch once then never again

The 1st time is sooo frustrating. Just finished 2nd time had to add sub-titles. Got a coupla more repeats to do before it make sense

Thanks for listening, glad you enjoyed it!

Yeah it for sure gets better with more viewings. I can't decide if that still means its a poorly told story though. Inception was still enjoyable on first viewing but rewarded multiple viewings. Tenet just missed the mark for me first time around. And then there is the fact if they did build it for multiple viewings why are there so many simple mistakes - like the fact that the silver car has its windows closed the first time we see it but the second time around in reverse its window is open for the hand over. This just feels like a shooting / continuity error.

Yeah, I'm on 3.5 viewings and this movie is growing on me A LOT.

Rage lol smoke a 🍷

Nolan pulled off a pincer movement on the audience.. 2nd and 3rd watch makes the movie instantly awesome..

That's exactly the speciality of TENET

Thanks ❤️

Nolan is not drinking from his flask. He is regurgitating into it.

Thank you for this.

Now do it inverted

@@jeffnajarro1241 perfect comment

It gets better every time you watch it.

@@joehenry9546for me it makes less sense every time I watch it

I've been doing the same with both Tenet and The Prestige, the more and more you watch and try to understand both films, the more you see and observe new things about the story or tiny details in the background. I'm not sure if you ever caught these details, but watch the Inverted Oslo scene again, from the moment they leave the shipping container to when they escape in the ambulance, and look at everything happening in the background and environments, you'll see some very cool details ;)

That just shows how little you know about films! This film is good but this film is full of exposition. 80 percent of the film is exposition lol! The film is still good tho!

Unfortunately you’ve missed my point, I wish you asked me to explain my stance as opposed to assuming I don’t know film.. hmm obviously there is exposition but I’m referring to the characters more specifically their backgrounds. There is no ‘filler’ no scene is just used to pad the run time. EVERYTHING CONTRIBUTES TO THE OVERALL STORY.

@@BlueBobbin this movie story is simple as hell. Nothing about the story is groundbreaking, what makes this movie work for alot of people its the concept! The concept its what this movie is being promoted for and the characters in this movie are flat as hell too.

I usually love what Nolan does but i really didnt get this movie. I understand the "concept" of it but for me what ruined it is the very beginning. When the protagonist shoots the gun and thinks wtf just happened. In 5 seconds he just accepts you can reverse objects in time and does it without any training. Also when he go back in time reversed he had to step into some some sort of machine? So how the heck could the bullets shoot reverse in the start? Someone sent those bullets from the future? ................

Trust me, the moment that one piece in puzzle fit in, everything comes together.

Type in tenet explained to youtube

Mr Nolan is not a Big Boss in a Nolan movie. Calm down, wait a decade or so before you call it a "Masterpiece". Every "masterpiece" goes through the passage of time, sonny boy.

I agree, Masterpiece with a capital M and no one can convince me otherwise! Such a legend in my opinion. A truely inspirational artist that will be remembered long after his time.

His worst movie lol

@@jothishprabu8 Haha oof that hurts. No but you really think so?

@@MikeVestering definitely not his best, the main character is pretty bland, first 45 minutes has terrible pacing, some pretty questionable dialogue, all of it took me out of the experience tbh, almost felt like a caricature of a Nolan movie. Inception is much better.

Interesting

Shot??

Not even Nolan can

No one except for Nolan can explain his films. But also quantum physicists...

@@John-X quantum physicists can't even explain quantum physics. They just see what ecuations work and go by it.

Shoot me

One of the great Leone films. Probably my favorite next to the original fistful of dollars

Glad I'm living in the era of Nolan Celluloids.

True. And the less superhero movies the better. No more of that dumb trash!

No problem!

Glad you enjoyed it!

I thought this was a setup to a joke about tenet's sound mixing for a second..

Well said! Glad you enjoyed

Couldn't agree more!

Oppenheimer 2023

Bong to the rescue 🤙

Hahaha wtf yeh I've watched all his movies as well. I still had no idea the first time I watched it.

God remember the days

I also wrote a time travel story.

Makes no sense to compare these two as if they were on a linear scale. Nolan couldn't fake a Kubrick film and vice versa.

Glad you enjoyed it! My pleasure!

DO NOT DELETE THIS COMMENT LMAO

lol, Don't think...Feel Lol

I don't even know what this even means 😂

Screenshot 📱

i doubt he's from haiti

@@gomcocramp no I think the dude commenting is from Haiti lol

@@gomcocramp simpleton

Thanks Anil. Really appreciate the kind words

Exactly! Some people just don’t want to be challenged by a film

That was brilliant! My girlfriend said if I did that to her she’s leaving me lol.

@@CortexVideos Believe me I've tested her patience on this!

At least here you can actually hear him

It's just timing. Calm the F down, son.

What part of The Prestige are you unsure with? (one of his best for sure). Also, TENET gets better with each viewing and subtitles.

The prestige was the least complex Nolan film .. what's there to not understand lol

@@ryanod9845 ...it’s not that I’m unsure, my point is whenever I watch his films I always feel an inexplicable urge to watch again thinking that I’ve missed something. 🤣🤣 Happy New Year 🥳

@@zee2213 See reply

It's based on a book of the same name so if you still don't get it, you can try reading it! Not the same experience obviously but it helps unpack certain things left out.