Tenet is the “Full Nolan”, a spoiler-ish analysis of Christopher Nolan tropes

Every auteur has their particular style and Christopher Nolan’s latest epic, Tenet, is filled with his favorite tropes that have been used time and time again in his filmography.

#1. Non-Linear Plot. Some of the earliest film theorists argue that the revolution of cinema is its ability to manipulate time relative to the viewer. Arguably, no director has made time a central theme of his work than Chris Nolan, who, almost, as a rule, refuses to stick to a linear narrative. Tenet is the latest, and perhaps most significant since Memento, an example of this obsession with manipulating time being a central theme.

#2. Obsessive. Aside from time, Christopher Nolan also seems obsessed with the idea of obsession, usually motivated by tragedy. Think Batman Begins’ Bruce Wayne dawning a rubber suit to fight crime or The Prestige’s Borden and Angier going to great lengths to deliver something audiences haven’t seen before (cough, meta, cough). Tenet’s obsessive takes the form of Kenneth Branagh’s Sator: a man motivated to start the apocalypse because of…reasons.

#3. Suited-up Protagonist. Does the very dapper Nolan insert himself into his movies? You tell me. From a character perspective, Nolan’s suited protagonist demonstrates an air of professionalism with their suits, which seem otherwise impractical for all the running…