Dune Director Denis Villeneuve Proclaims Tenet A Major Cinematic Achievement

Dune director Denis Villeneuve has expressed his great admiration of Christopher Nolan’s most recent film, Tenet. After helming Arrival, Blade Runner: 2049 and now Dune (which released earlier this week), Villeneuve is himself no stranger to large-scale sci-fi films. Recently, Nolan gave Dune his high praise, saying the film was “compelling at every turn” and “an incredible piece of work.”

Nolan’s Tenet was released in August of 2020, after it had been delayed three times by the COVID pandemic. It was the first major Hollywood film to open in theatres after lockdowns were lifted, but restrictions were still in place in many countries. Starring John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki and Kenneth Branagh, Tenet‘s action-packed but highly complex narrative earned the film mixed reviews from both critics and audiences. Warner Bros. later announced that it would be re-releasing Tenet in select New York theatres to celebrate their doors re-opening after remaining closed for several difficult months. On March 1, Tenet was simultaneously released on HBO Max, causing bad blood between Nolan and the streaming service.

While discussing the issue of simultaneous releases during an interview with The Playlist, Villeneuve expressed his deep love for Tenet. The director said he was “blown away” by the film, and called it “an incredible cinematic achievement.” Villeneuve then went on to praise Nolan himself as one of the “best filmmakers working in the world today.” Read his full comments below:

“I was blown away by ‘Tenet,’ I think it’s a masterpiece … I think it’s a movie that’s an incredible cinematic achievement. I think that it’s a very complex movie, I had so much fun, I saw it several times and each time it was a blast and I think the level of mastery of Christopher Nolan is unmatched … He is by far one of the best filmmakers working in the world today because people don’t realize the eye-level of his cinematic mastery, it’s crazy.”

During the interview, Villeneuve was asked about his opinion on streaming versus a theatrical experience for movie-goers. Villeneuve is a strong advocate for the cinema, and despite the pandemic, went to see Tenet in theaters multiple times. According to the director, this is because he believes that “you can’t watch a Nolan movie at home” since it makes “no sense.” This response comes as no surprise from Villeneuve, who has been open about his lack of enthusiasm over Dune being released on streaming sites, saying that it shows “no love for the cinema, nor for the audience.” Villeneuve has also said he believes streaming services leave movies more susceptible to piracy.

Despite Tenet receiving some mixed reviews, it has Villeneuve’s seal of approval. While after the pandemic many may feel content to consume media from the comfort of their own home, Villeneuve sees Nolan’s film as a perfect example as to why the cinema is still relevant. It’s a fair point to make, since an action set piece as massive in cinematic scale as sci-epics like Tenet and Dune will simply not have the same impact in a living room as in a large theatre. After all, if there is one thing Villeneuve has proved he knows a lot about, it is creating cinematic spectacles. Seeing these films in a theater brings Villeneuve and many other film-lovers like him a unique experience that they can’t get at home; and perhaps it’s an experience worth preserving.

Source: The Playlist