Undoubtedly, Denis Villeneuve and Christopher Nolan spring to mind when you think about two of the most prominent proponents of the theatrical experience. In a new interview with the Reel Blend podcast, Villeneuve emphasizes how talented Nolan is at filmmaking and why his films are must-sees on the big screen.
Villeneuve discussed the streaming versus. the theatrical argument in advance of his new picture, “Dune,” which will be released in theatres and on HBO Max today. Obviously, the director favors the cinematic experience, but he did admit to reading a bunch of streaming stuff during the lockdown, particularly on the Criterion Channel.
“I like streaming because it allows us to rediscover our cinematic memories,” he remarked.
However, when it came to discussing the theatre experience, Villeneuve took a detour to praise Christopher Nolan and how he believes his new film, “Tenet,” is a masterpiece.
“‘Tenet’ blew me away; I think it’s a masterpiece,” Villeneuve stated. “I think it’s a fantastic cinematic achievement,” says the Denis. I think it’s a really sophisticated film, but I had a lot of pleasure watching it. I saw it numerous times and each time was a blast, and I believe Christopher Nolan’s level of skill is unrivaled.”
“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,” he continued. “It’s crazy. Every time Chris puts a movie on the screen, I have to [see it on the big screen]. Of course, I saw ‘Tenet’ in the theaters. You can’t watch a Nolan movie at home, that’s like, that makes absolutely no sense. You have to, at first, receive the full impact of a Nolan movie in a theater. It’s really fascinating to see him evolving from one movie to another and always pushing the envelope, technically, narratively, and always reinventing himself. For me, it’s deeply inspiring to see that master at work.”
Of course, reactions to “Tenet” are mixed, with some believing that Nolan’s latest film is more about style than substance. Nonetheless, you won’t find a greater recommendation than from one of today’s most talented filmmakers. So, if Villeneuve considers “Tenet” to be a “great cinematic achievement,” you should pay attention.