Director Christopher Nolan took the risk and pushed for months in uncharted times during the pandemic to have Tenet released to cinemas in states where they are open. This film has a reported budget of $225 million and is ranked as one of the most expensive films in Nolan’s directing life. Tenet is visually enticing throughout its 150 minutes, but the film requires much analytical thinking from its audience over the primary conflicts. Nolan’s directing goes above and beyond with the static audio, and that makes Tenet amazing at various moments, but it also makes the dialogue hard to hear at times. That is why there have been several mentions of audio issues, but it’s ultimately Nolan’s creation of ambience which he uses to carry his audience through the world he creates with his directing.

The film is set in an era of global espionageand Tenet is an unknown organization. A CIA operative without a name is the protagonist played by John David Washington. He is chosen to take part in a global task to prevent an attack potentially as lethal as World War III that may happen in the future. Robert Pattinson plays Neil, the assistant who is helping the Protagonist. The focus of their mission (in terms of espionage and global terror prevention) is to prevent a renegade Russian oligarch with foresight intelligence from starting World War III. The enemy behind this is Andrei Sator, and he is played by Kenneth Branagh. With the futuristic skills of the mysterious organization, the Protagonist and  Neil are faced with the challenge of analyzing  patterns of events that have happened, and then going back and redoing them, or trying to go back and fix what could potentially do more damage.

In Tenet, the moments which go forward and then reverse provide the element which requires self-analysis for the audience. The missions are mentioned in bits, but then later the missions go on without explanation. That is why viewers need to watch the film carefully to put together the pieces (especially when an event happens and then happens a second time). Some viewers may interpret that this film is similar towards Nolan’s Inception (2010). I believe there are similarities, but Inception’s characters explained the tasks and how to format the missions. In Tenet, the missions just come around with various twists and turns and are then repeated. Nolan makes his audience use their mind more in this film.  I found myself excited during much with of the film with the limited explanation of events creating the excitement for me. But then, however, I would find myself contemplating whether a scene had already happened. Given the film involves action after action, I felt it was an intensely thrilling cinematic event. And, seeing it in IMAX made it much more amazing, because this film was shot with IMAX cameras.

Overall, I will give Tenet three stars. However, it is one of those films that you should think carefully before watching. It is a long one, and some people may be uncertain about going back to movie theaters. However, if you are ready to take the chance, Tenet is the film that the world has been waiting for. It may feel different than the other works by Nolan, but not much different technologically given it is just a different approach to an original project.

In 2007, 4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days was the winner of the PALME D’OR at the Cannes Film Festival. Director Cristian Mungiu brought the audience a dark and audacious drama that takes place in Romania in 1987. 4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days is a heavy film and may not be for everyone based on its focus on illegal abortion. The individual’s choices at that time are life-threatening and carry irreparable consequences. The conversations regarding those choices make 4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days emotionally intense. The tensions of the people involved with the abortion plan are staggering.

The plot focuses on college roommates, Gabita (played by Laura Vasliu) and Otilia (played by Anamaria Marinca). Gabita is close to five months pregnant and Otilia is the one that helps her set up an illegal abortion. Since the movie is set in 1987, the technology to make advanced arrangements is not available which makes the process of getting this illegal task completed especially complex for Gabita and Otilia. They hire a man named Bebe (played by Vlad Ivanov) and who is an abortionist. However, he has a sinister side that makes the illegal situation more tense and uncomfortable for the two roommates. Given all three of them are involved in an illegal activity in Romania, they are all at risk for legal troubles. Bebe wants to ensure that the arrangements are perfect, but since Gabita and Otilia are still being in college, the procedure is more risky and expensive than what they had expected.

The plot involving abortion is what makes 4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days an emotional rollercoaster ride of tension. The title hints at this as well because it alludes to the time frame of the pregnancy. It is an excellent film, but also sad.  If, during the procedure something goes awry or an ambulance is called, the characters risk going to jail. The anxiety that builds worrying if things might get out of hand makes 4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days emotionally enticing.

Overall, I enjoyed this movie, but I will only watch it once. The concept is depressing, but the film is faithful to what people would have to do in this situation and the mental anguish those choices would create.  However, it also makes people think about alternative options or safe resources they could turn to. Fortunately, many things have changed for the better since 1987 including technology and abortion laws.  I give this movie three stars.

Audiences may perceive that First Cow is going to be a quiet and dull experience based on how mellow it is in the beginning. However, it is a brilliant film due to the screenplay and cinematography, and that is why First Cow deeply captivated me.  The director, Kelly Reichardt, had an interest in photography since childhood, and her fascination was fueled by having a father who did photography for crime scenes. Reichardt’s experience in photography has led her to make films with vast scenery, and First Cow’s scenery is magnificent. The photography in the forests and the mountains left me visually dazzled.

The plot of First Cow takes place in the 1820s in a forested territory in Oregon. The film introduces us to Cookie (played by John Magaro) who is a loner and a cook. He is seeking to find someone to start a business with involving food and cooking in a timeframe of no technological advancement. As he navigates his travels, he joins fur trappers. The fur trappers do not express much interest in his cooking or creating food for business. That is until he meets a Chinese Immigrant, King-Lu (played by Orion Lee). Cookie’s wishes come true when he finds assistance in King-Lu who has an affiliated past as an entrepreneur. With King-Lu’s strong sense of the hard work needed to establish a successful business, the two team up to build a business milking cows.  Together they find business connections in the uncharted territory of Portland, Oregon, and First Cow turns into an astounding and inviting journey that will touch many.

The film’s focus on milking cows looks so accurate in terms of how the process of making foods would have been back in the day. The cinematography that is used the film is realistic, where viewers will feel taken back to a time when there weren’t any forms of technological advancement for business.  No phones, no computers, no networking tools, and everything had to be done on foot and through in-person networking. The film’s sense of urgency to succeed in business is amplified through dialogue demonstrating trial and error which will make viewers appreciate the past. The main characters do not get distracted, but are always on foot trying to find what is right, and they can only do that via face-to-face interactions.

The business side of this movie spoke to me. I felt that the roaming of uncharted territories showed how being a landowner and having the option to share or not, was what truly made businessmen or landowners have power. Cookie and King-Lu have some power, but they are not confrontational or egotistical. They are restrained and patient, because given that they have limited resources, confrontation is the last problem they want to have. I found that is what also drove the film to be inspiring, because although they are striving for success, they do not want to hit plateaus. First Cow is about two men trying to develop a new idea for everyone, but with spiritual meaning.

Based on the spiritual value, deep connections, and cinematography, I give First Cow four stars. To watch this film during the hard time the world is going through now, made me appreciate life more. It made me realize that I need to be more thankful for the resources the planet gives us to create and rejuvenate. Today, we continue to use so many products from milking cows, and it is still a growing business. First Cow is a faithful film to how that era started.