Probably no movies – except may be the eternally delayed James Bond movie No Time To Die—It has come to better represent the difficulties of launching films in the world of COVID than Christopher Nolan’s Principle. Due to delays, arguments about digital distribution, concerns about pandemic exposure and the implication that the fate of the entire theater industry rests on its back, Nolan’s perfectly useful action film has taken on layers far beyond what is, of course, its explosions. Delightful and deliberate plot could ever probably support. In fact, it was raised so much symbolic weight that people began to make art projects intended precisely to upset Nolan, including the hilarious and evil act of crushing the entire film to the point where cwould fit in five lowercase letters Game Boy Advance cartridges.
And now, finally, he has come to this: Principle comes to HBO Max, once dubbed The “worst streaming service” of the film director, who was royally angry about Warner Media (now firmly executed) intends to release films on duty at the same time as their theatrical releases. It’s not necessary Principle, obviously – Nolan managed to secure his theatrical demand for a long time last year, and the film has been available on VOD for months – but the thought of the film is now on a structure he has spent in recent months blowing up is a kind of rich irony is hard to say no. There is also a simpler fact, if you have not yet seen Principle (due to the deadly global pandemic) this will probably be a pretty good way to get there eventually see him. *
* This view is not supported or supported by Principle director Christopher Nolan.