Movie Conventions Research: Tenet

TENET (2020) 

 
Camera Movements and Angles 
In this film, wide shots are used to establish where the character(s) is.  
Medium shots to show where the character is and how they fit in and tracking shots are common and effective if a character is running throughout a scene, adding to the action-packed feeling. Close-ups are used to show a character's facial expressions and over-the-shoulder shots that focus out of the character whose shoulder is showing create the feeling of focus on said other characters or objects. For fight scenes, a variety of angles are used to enforce the intense movement the protagonist feels while fighting.  
Mis-En-Scene 

Costumes 
For costumes, characters are often seen in military wear, casual clothes, or expensive high-class clothing, such as fancy suits or graceful dresses.  

Lighting 
The lighting matches the scene's atmosphere, so if the characters are outside, they will be lit by the sun. Lighting doesn't do much to reinforce any mood as it's realistic. 

Acting 

Characters in this movie act realistically and portray somewhat realistic situations. Characters react differently to certain situations due to their different backgrounds. Due to the serious nature and tense plotline, characters act focused, sad, anxious, stressed, worried, irritated, and enraged. Characters are also often injured, acting by shaking, screaming, or being unconscious.  

Props 
The props are realistic. In terms of weaponry, guns, rifles, and bullets are common. In terms of technology, gears, nuts, and bolts are used. Cars, bags, and a metallic object referred to as "the formula" are miscellaneous. Since characters are often in restaurants, plates, cups, and silverware are also common.  

Setting  
The characters in this movie travel a lot, but the settings are usually urban cityscapes. Other places include the sea, restaurants, boats, and freeports. All are relevant to the plot or help push it along.  
Characters in this movie don't wear extravagant looks, even when dressed in clothing of a higher class. Sometimes make-up is used to make the characters look injured.  

 

 

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  Sound 
  Often, a tense instrumental is used to add to the mood but not distract from the scene. Diegetic sound reflects weaponry/props used, so if a gun is shot, a bullet is heard. Regarding the non-diegetic sound, specific effects are used to show buildup.  
   
   
  Editing 
  There are often inserts on important objects. Reverse shots for characters speaking, which visually conveys communication and during fight scenes, the difference between scene to scene becomes more dramatic Common Editing in the movie cross-cutting shot-reverse jump cut  

Elements of the genre:  

• Realistic costumes 

1. Tracking shots  
2. Natural Lighting 
3. Realistic Speech  
4. Jump-cuts 

 

 

Elements I enjoyed- I enjoyed the use of non-diegetic sound to add to the mood of the scene and the reverse shots to show characters speaking.  

Elements I disliked- The props for this specific movie are inaccessible and also required lots of special effects due to the science fiction aspect of this film.