“Dunkirk” (2017) – Movie Review

Written and Directed by Christopher Nolan

Starring Fionn Whitehead, Mark Rylance and Tom Hardy

‘A Gripping Tale of Survival’

War is a difficult subject to capture on film. It is tough to bring to life a horrific event in which millions of lives were lost. Not only does a film have to be historically accurate, but it must convey the tragedy of the event. It’s a tricky balance that not many films are able to pull off. It is rare to come across an effective war movie, let alone one that does justice to its subject matter.

Over the last decade or so, I’ve seen many war movies. However, few have been as gripping or suspenseful as Christopher Nolan’s “Dunkirk”. Christopher Nolan’s latest film is an intense, thrilling and harrowing World War II epic. Using breathtaking visuals and a nerve-wracking score, director Christopher Nolan has managed to re-create the horrors of war. Along with a talented team of artists, he has crafted a film that transports the viewer from their comfort zone into the dangerous battlefield. Although it is not flawless, “Dunkirk” is a stunning technical achievement that deserves to be seen on the big-screen.

Set during World War II, “Dunkirk” follows a unique structure that is different from most war films. Instead of focusing on a singular protagonist, the film follows three different groups of people: a group of civilians on sea, soldiers on land and air pilots. These individuals work together in order to save the Allied soldiers from the German Army in Dunkirk, France.

At the moment, writer-director Christopher Nolan is at the top of his craft. He is arguably one of the finest filmmakers working today. With “Dunkirk”, Nolan has crafted a magnificent war film that showcases his skills as a filmmaker. Although this is the first time that the director has made a war film, he has done a remarkable job. Using a combination of visual imagery and sound, he has made a unique war film. There have been plenty of films that have been made about World War II, but none have been quite as immersive as “Dunkirk”.

Unlike other films in the genre, “Dunkirk” does not rely on dialogue or storytelling to make it’s point. Instead, director Christopher Nolan uses a combination of visuals and sound to drop the viewer into the trenches of warfare. It’s a risky approach but one that works tremendously. Hoyte van Hoytema’s cinematography is visually stunning, giving the film a dark and gloomy atmosphere. From the opening scene, it immediately grabs your attention and plunges you into the battlefield. “Dunkirk” demands to be seen on the big-screen for it’s visuals alone.

These stunning visuals are accompanied by Hans Zimmer’s brilliant score. Haunting, intense and nerve-wracking, it is integral to the film’s success. Not only does the music build tension and suspense, but it enhances the film to another level.

“Dunkirk” is also worth seeing for the terrific performances given by a talented cast. Christopher Nolan has assembled a dream cast consisting of newcomers and fantastic actors he has worked with in the past. Perhaps, Nolan’s smartest decision is to cast newcomer actors as World War II soldiers.

Fionn Whitehead, in particular, is a standout as one of the soldiers in the army. Although this is his debut role, he does a remarkable job of portraying a World War II soldier. With emotional expressions, he conveys the fear, isolation and despair that soldiers experienced during the war. It is often difficult for an actor to convey emotions without dialogue, but Whitehead pulls it off. Although he doesn’t speak much, his expressions provide much more than you would expect.

Despite limited screen-time, the supporting actors also get a chance to shine. I was rather surprised when I first heard that Harry Styles was cast in this movie, but he is quite convincing as a soldier. Mary Rylance is amazing in the role of a civilian that comes to the rescue of soldiers. And even though his face is hidden behind a mask, Tom Hardy is excellent as a spitfire pilot.

As with all of Christopher Nolan’s films, “Dunkirk” is undeniably well-made. From the thrilling action sequences to the brilliant music, the technical aspects of the production are top-notch.

However, while the film is a technical achievement it is not quite the masterpiece that critics have made it out to be. What makes the film fall short of greatness is the lack of character development. When you consider the greatest war films of all-time (ex. “Saving Private Ryan”), they have strong characters you care about. Although we are introduced to the soldiers in “Dunkirk”, they are not given backstories or distinct personalities. A little more attention to character development would have elevated the film to another level.

Nevertheless, Christopher Nolan’s “Dunkirk” is a powerful war film that is worth seeing on the big-screen. A haunting depiction of a horrifying event, it offers the most unforgettable movie-going experience of the year. It is certainly not an experience that I will forget about anytime soon.

4/5 stars