Who Knew Tetris Was This Thrilling
Film
Who would've thought that the video game centric film that comes out in late-March/early-April, capturing your attention would not be the Mario related film? But instead, is Tetris of all games! Streaming now on Apple TV, Tetris is not a movie about sentient blocks fighting for alignment, but instead about the game's origins in the Soviet Union and how it came to exist as we know it today. As someone that knew less than nothing on the history of Tetris I was rather dubious that a near two hour film would really grab my attention. In actuality, Tetris is a blast of a thrill ride and an exemplary written drama that proved I was naught but a frivolous hater.
Following the "discovery" of Tetris by Henk Rogers (Taron Egerton), Tetris shows how Rogers attempts to circumnavigate the various legal hurdles of licensing a video game entrenched in Soviet Union IP. Not only is Egerton as magnetic as ever, but the film is incredibly well-paced and the direction is executed wonderfully by Jon S. Baird. Not to mention, the script of Noah Pink takes on the difficult task of giving the unknowledgeable viewer more color and context into the inner workings of Soviet law and intellectual property rights. The frequent use of 8-bit graphics for some striking pictures and descriptions allow Pink and Baird to intertwine explanatory moments that don't come off as forced, or a nuisance to the viewing experience. Such clean explanations reminded me a lot of Dune and how Denis Villeneuve wove in moments of world building and knowledge sharing through Paul's (Timothée Chalamet) usage of recordings.
Maybe that's a stretch and I just wanted to bring up Dune again as I'm starving for Dune: Part Two but hey, I see parallels.
Expanding on Egerton's performance, his portrayal, along with Pink's writing, of Rogers is the perfect vehicle for turning this historical drama into a full blown thriller. Rogers is affable, eager, and from an outside perspective quite reckless in his actions which effectively translates to the viewer being uneasy with his choices. Walking straight into Moscow with a tourist visa and engaging in business, breaking the law in the Soviet Union, after being told this multiple times displays Rogers' dedication along with his any means necessary approach. After offering a bank his apartment for collateral, resulting in disapproval of his wife Akemi (Ayane Nagabuchi), it's clear that Rogers is full-steam ahead on the Tetris payout and simply cannot afford any sort of failure. Pitting such an enjoyable protagonist against the media magnate Maxwell family, Robert (Roger Allam) and Kevin (Anthony Boyle) of Mirrorsoft makes for some great David vs. Goliath tension as well. Whereas Rogers cares about everyone getting their slice of the pie, as evident with his inclusion of royalties in the rights, the Maxwell's want the pie to themselves. Not to mention the realization of who the Maxwell family is helps to establish the power dynamic throughout the film along with character agency.
In the end the doom and gloom portrayal of Soviet life, law, and the delightful KGB (as if) in conjunction with the Maxwell family make for a powerful one two punch of antagonists. Not only is the film a great thrill ride but also a compelling underdog story of the small fish Rogers in the big sea of intellectual rights and wrestling with the Soviet Union.
Who knew that the origin story of Tetris would be such a wild ride?? I suppose that's why they made it into a movie, to let the broader audience know, but it's almost crazier that the movie is this good! But Tetris now begs the question, what other classic arcade games could have an interesting origin story deserving of a movie? I'm envisioning Pac-Man or Dig Dug's creation embroiled in global espionage and blackmail. Maybe that's a bit far fetched but if Baird and Pink join forces on another historical drama/thriller you can count me in because I thoroughly enjoyed what they made in Tetris!
The same goes for anything Egerton participates in too! With an eclectic range of films under his belt such as Kingsman: The Secret Service, Sing, Kingsman: The Golden Circle, Rocketman and Sing 2 it's clear that Egerton has some quantifiable range. Not to mention he was even nominated for a Golden Globe and a SAG for his performance in the show Black Bird, and deservedly so. I'm excited to see where his career goes from here and I would certainly not be upset if he got more singing roles.
Now I'll take this final bit of space here to say Egerton was absolutely snubbed for any and every accolade for his work in Rocketman.
Froth
In my mind there's only one or two beer styles that pair perfectly with a movie heavily involving the Soviet Union. I guess technically the two styles I'm thinking of are of the same "tree" of brewing but they can vary in their own ways. The Irish red ale and the American amber are the two I'm referencing, both children of the red ale brewing family. My reasoning of these choices being quite obvious, the overt messaging of the color red throughout communism's lifetime and its prominence in Soviet Union messaging. Red flag, "the red menace", the red wave, all of these symbols relating to the practice of communism or emotions/attitudes it provokes.
Therefore it only makes sense to have a beer that shares a color with all of this messaging. Enjoying a red ale while watching Rogers dodge, dip, duck, dive and dodge his way through the USSR trying to secure licensing rights is a wonderfully immersive way to view Tetris. That is of course why I had the delightful Funky Red Patina Red Ale by Hellbent Brewing! The brew so red, it says it twice!
The Funky Red Patina Red Ale is an American amber, one of my favorite styles being a Midwesterner and all, that is smooth, malty and the perfect balance of sweet. It boasts an impeccable color that is this gorgeous deep red that evokes some serious mouthwatering. Using cascade hops this beer gives a slight floral smell but that merely operates as an accent piece to the roasty malt and toffee that dominates the aroma and palate.
If Tetris gets a little out of hand and your sweating in your seat once you find out a certain someone is a double-agent, gasp! Just relax, take a sip of some Funky Red Patina, and keep on grooving through this film.
Then afterwards play some Tetris.
