Review of Dunkirk (2017) by Skylar R — 30 Dec 2017

Christopher Nolan films are becoming an enigmatic moment in the history of cinema. With every new film of his, the viewer wonders what new odyssey he can create to dazzle and amaze the full spectrum of film viewer: casual to devoted film aficionado.

Dunkirk is something new. Not just for Christopher Nolan, but for cinema altogether. You've never seen a war movie such as this. There are no superficial friendships forged between any of the main characters we follow. There are no eye-rolling lines of sentiment followed by death. And most importantly, there's not a single reprieve from the mental and physical tolls of the ultimate brutality which is war as we know it.

The direction and cinematography are flawless, as is the acting. Although one main criticism I've heard is in regards to the lack of dialogue, the amount of realism this adds only serves to better highlight the immaculate acting and performance which takes place before our eyes. Whitehead, Styles, and Lowden in particular excel in bringing an atmosphere of high anxiety, and claustrophobia to the film as they struggle just to survive the evacuations as France completely falls to Nazi Germany. As do Cillian Murphy and Kenneth Branagh further pit the audience against the looming outcome as the enemy gets nearer and nearer while plans for escape fail and result in increasing hopelessness and distress.

In case I haven't made myself perfectly clear, Dunkirk is an absolute masterpiece from beginning to end.