Tetris

Tetris is a captivating film that takes viewers behind the scenes of the video game industry in the late 1980s. Based on a true story, the film tells the complex tale of the battle for the distribution rights to the famous game Tetris between different companies and countries. The story revolves around Henk Rogers, played with intensity by Taron Egerton, a video game developer who discovers Tetris at a trade show in Las Vegas. Rogers quickly becomes hooked on the game and decides to launch its commercialization on all media. However, he comes up against many obstacles, not least competitors eager to appropriate the rights to the game.

The film features a gallery of interesting and sometimes caricatured characters. The film's villains, such as Valentin Trifonov and the Maxwells father and son, are portrayed in an exaggerated manner, but they add palpable tension to the story. The actors, including Roger Allam, Anthony Boyle and Toby Jones, perfectly embody these colorful characters. The actors' performances are convincing, especially Taron Egerton as Henk Rogers. He manages to convey the character's enthusiasm and obsession with Tetris. Nikita Efremov also brings a certain gravitas to the role of Alexey Pazhitnov, the inventor of Tetris.

Director John S. Baird's staging is fascinating, notably the use of animated special effects to represent the game blocks as they melt and transform into veritable cinematography. However, some scenes, such as the car chase where the cars are transformed into game pieces, seem a little exaggerated and trivialize the danger faced by the protagonists.

The film also tackles deeper themes, such as the rivalry between capitalists and communists in the Cold War era. The stakes are high, and the game becomes dangerous not only for Rogers, but also for his family and the creator of Tetris, Alexey Pazhitnov. Political intrigue and the maneuverings of the technology industry add an exciting dimension to the story.

Tetris captures the essence of the video game and its impact on popular culture. Whether you're a Tetris fan or not, the film immerses you in the history of this iconic game and shows how a simple game can have international repercussions. Tetris is a captivating thriller that skilfully blends political intrigue, international rivalry and the stakes of the technology industry. The film succeeds in making the story of the game Tetris exciting and revealing the importance of video games in our modern culture. Whether you're an avid gamer or not, Tetris will entertain you and make you think about our world today.

Tetris
Directed by Jon S. Baird
Written by Noah Pink
Produced by Matthew Vaughn, Gillian Berrie, Claudia Vaughn, Len Blavatnik, Gregor Cameron
Starring Taron Egerton, Nikita Efremov, Sofia Lebedeva, Anthony Boyle, Toby Jones
Cinematography : Alwin H. Küchler
Edited by Martin Walsh, Colin Goudie, Ben Mills
Music by Lorne Balfe
Production companies : Apple Studios, AI Film, Marv Studios
Distributed by Apple TV+
Release dates March 15, 2023 (SXSW);March 31, 2023 (Apple TV+)
Running time : 118 minutes

Viewed March 31, 2023 (Apple TV+)

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