Review of Dunkirk (2017) by Christopher E — 27 Jul 2017

Impending fear awaits as this beautifully shot piece approaches war with a new and unique take.

Acclaimed auteur Christopher Nolan directs this World War II thriller about the evacuation of Allied troops from the French city of Dunkirk before Nazi forces can take hold. Tom Hardy, Kenneth Branagh and Mark Rylance co-star, with longtime Nolan collaborator Hans Zimmer providing the score.

The first time I saw "Dunkirk", I was dead tired. I was running off of two hours of sleep and finishing up a drum gig. As a result, I fell asleep! I felt terrible, and I knew that my opinion of the film at the time was no where near valid. After a second viewing, I saw the beauty of this film. Even though it's not a perfect film, I still think it's worth a viewing, and certainly a unique piece of cinema.

One thing that stands out in an instant is the story telling method here. Nolan approaches this fearful war tale in a different way. He doesn't used much dialogue at all nor does he ever explain the situation, which I like. He tells his story through music, cinematography, the talent on screen, and the situation at hand. He never relies on stereotypical war movie cliches to get this done, which I admire. It's a slow style, one that needs you to pay close attention to the film. There's not gunfire and huge battles going on and all of this leads to the statement that this movie won't be for everyone. It's a different kind of film, but one that I can appreciate a lot.

The acting in this film was very phenomenal. I think everyone here did a good job relaying Nolan's message of fear in emotions. Because no one really spoke, you just saw the fear and the misery on everyone's face; reflected by their body language, attitude, and temper. Although that was done well, it still doesn't stray from the fact that we know none of these characters. We don't get any real character development here, which I understand, but it doesn't stray from the fact that I don't really care about anyone here. I won't remember the characters for too long, and that's a real downfall. In real life, I absolutely feel for the men in these situations. But in a movie situation, you're less detached to these characters.

The cinematography was also amazing. Nolan's direction with his camera angles and movements created a theme, an atmosphere that told the story itself. That component is so crucial in its own right, and it was done to perfection here. This is one of the best shot films this year, and that's said without a doubt. Even if you don't like this film, there's not much out there that accomplishes what Nolan did with a camera lense and nothing else.

The narrative, although really interesting in its own right, was a bit choppy. I can appreciate the difference in timelines and the way each story was told, but it can get a bit messy, especially if you're not paying attention. They're shifting back and forth between the ground, air, and sea. Each scenario takes place over a different period of time, so sometimes things get a little mixed up. I don't think the story was as cohesive as the filmmakers wanted it to be, but still interesting and entertaining none the less. I still found myself well attached to the story line at hand despite those flaws.

In the end, "Dunkirk" is a different kind of war film. This isn't something you'll see often and even if it may not be your type of film, I would give it a chance if I were you.