Editor's Eye

It seemed like a miracle when Christopher Nolan’s new film Tenet was released in theaters a few weeks ago. As is usual for the director, his latest is an IMAX production, and despite early reviews indicating it doesn’t measure up to his last film, 2017’s Dunkirk, I was primed to see it as soon as humanly possible. But there was a dilemma. I live in New York State, and the governor hadn’t yet cleared movie theaters for reopening. And that’s still the case. Schools, indoor restaurants, bowling alleys, malls, museums, and gyms have been given the green light, but not theaters — even IMAX ones!

What to do? Theaters are open in nearby Canada, but the Canadian government has shut its border to travelers from the U.S. There are IMAX theaters in Pennsylvania and Ohio, but do I really want to travel that many miles to see a film? Sure, I’m desperate to take in a tentpole release from a director who consistently rewards viewers who trek out to theaters with epic visuals and immersive sound, but maybe I should sit this one out. Governor Cuomo would be pleased with that decision.

A clear entertainment industry trend to emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic has been straight-to-video release of big-budget films that would otherwise have seen a theatrical run. Some of these, like Disney’s Mulan and Bill & Ted Face the Music, weren’t on my radar, so seeing them routed direct to VOD is something I could personally care less about. And other releases like The King of Staten Island are ones that would likely work just as well on the small screen, so the fact they missed out on a theatrical run ultimately doesn’t matter.

But the question remains: Is this the new normal for the movies? I certainly hope not. Respect to Christopher Nolan for not caving in to the VOD trend and instead insisting that Tenet be exhibited in theaters, the way he intended for it to be experienced.

My gut feeling about the situation — one not at all based on science or research, I’ll admit — is that theaters will return full-force, because nothing beats that venue for certain films. Even with the expensive snacks and people talking and texting, going out to the movies can be a thoroughly worthwhile experience. (And that’s coming from someone who considers his home theater to be his true happy place.) A well-written, well-directed, well-acted film can seize hold of your attention in a way few other forms of entertainment can.

I distinctly remember seeing A Quiet Place, a horror-thriller notable for its near-silent soundtrack, in a crowded theater. Despite the setting, the audience was so engrossed in the onscreen drama that there was a barely a word spoken from start to finish. The silence was deafening. That film’s sequel is one of the many productions originally scheduled for a spring 2020 release that was pushed back by its studio for a spring 2021 release. I have high hopes for, and look forward to seeing, A Quiet Place Part II. And I expect to watch it in a movie theater amidst a group of rapt, silent viewers.