Miles and a movie? Well, that’s dirty talk right there.
Christopher Nolan’s much-anticipated new film Tenet opens September 3 in movie theatres. The problem is, it’s not playing everywhere because COVID-19 has closed a number of the country’s cinemas (some of them possibly for good). And Mr. Nolan’s legion of dedicated fans must see the movie in a theatre. On opening weekend. So they’re taking to the skies — and then to the big screens.
What is Tenet?
(At first, I misread the title and thought people were going to see Tennant, the comedian…)
Tenet’s synopsis:
John David Washington is the new Protagonist in Christopher Nolan’s original sci-fi action spectacle “Tenet.”
Armed with only one word—Tenet—and fighting for the survival of the entire world, the Protagonist journeys through a twilight world of international espionage on a mission that will unfold in something beyond real time.
Not time travel. Inversion.
(I’m not a big sci-fan — which I know is ironic — but really like John David Washington, who is fantastic in Blackkklansman.)
The picture was shot on 70mm IMAX film, which is pretty special in today’s digital age. I’m sure it will look great on your big screen television at home. But it’ll look downright amazing in IMAX.
But It’s Not Playing Everywhere!
Here’s the problem: only some movie theatres have reopened since closing down because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Enter the movie run. Film lovers are flying to locales where theatres are open. (And had it not been for those pesky quarantine rules, some people planned to visit other countries.)
Variety’s Manori Ravindran writes that Los Angeles resident Tyler Thompkins is flying to Texas to catch a special showing on September 1.
The round-trip flight from Los Angeles to Austin, a three-hour Spirit Airlines journey in time for the Sept. 1 screening, set him back $220. And that’s without accounting for the cinema stub itself, popcorn or soda. His plan? Land in the Lone Star state (where movie theaters have reopened), book it to the AMC Barton Creek Square, and see the movie — twice — before returning straight home.
“I’m seeing the movie like three hours after I land. That’s the whole purpose of this trip,” says a breathlessly excited Tompkins, who’s traveling with three others. “My friends think I’m crazy, going all the way across the country to watch it, but we want to show support for this film and we’ll do anything to see it.”
If his friends think he’s crazy, imagine their reactions to some of the mileage runs we post!
The Onion poked fun at the film’s traveling superfans in a post titled “Cinephile Refugees Arrive On Rafts In Canada For ‘Tenet’ Premiere.” (My favorite line: “… the group (was) adrift in Lake Ontario, sheltering from the relentless sun under makeshift awnings constructed from Criterion Collection blu-ray releases and Pulp Fiction T-shirts.” As a film school graduate who owns Criterion Collection DVDs and a Pulp Fiction shirt, I assure you that’s funny!)
Catching a Movie — and Coronavirus?
Perhaps like you, I’ve enjoyed countless mileage runs. And maybe you, too, have also taken several day trips to attend sports events and concerts.
So the idea of traveling somewhere “just to see a movie” sounds great to me — especially if you want an “experience” like visiting the historic Chinese Theatre or Cineramadome.
Maybe I’m overly cautious. But I don’t think now is the time to hit the theatre.
In her piece, Ms. Ravindran says:
Friends who’ve flown since March have assured (Mr. Tompkins) that face coverings are diligently worn on flights, and AMC’s socially distanced seating plans put him at ease.
“I’m not too worried,” he shrugs. “If I get sick, that’s my problem, but I want to make sure I don’t get anyone else sick, so I’ll be following the precautions.”
And therein lies the issue.
“If I get sick, that’s my problem.” Well, yes. I’m glad he understands that. But then he says, “but I want to make sure I don’t get anyone else sick.”
I’m no doctor. But if someone catches a virus, doesn’t that mean they can pass it along to others? So if he contracts coronavirus, how can he be sure he won’t pass it along to someone else?
Because of Mr. Nolan’s huge following and Tenet’s 70mm film allure, I’m confident Warner Bros. would book it in large format theatres for special screenings after COVID-19 is less of a threat than it is now.
Final Approach
I think it’s great people when incorporate travel into other passions — like moviegoing, live events, and other fun pastimes. I know this Tenet situation is unique, and people are traveling because the film isn’t playing in their hometowns. But there’s a safety reason behind that.
What do you think? Please share your thoughts in the below Comments section!
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People are welcome to fly and see me too. I’ll put extra butter on the popcorn.
You can try the Gateway Film Center in Columbus, but the unless you want the neck strain seats (the first two rows), it’s basically full this week.
https://gatewayfilmcenter.org/movies/tenet/
Looks like some availability later in the week.