Dunkirk (2017) Movie Review

Official Dunkirk Poster

Masterfully crafted by visionary director Christopher Nolan, Dunkirk is a must see this summer. This movie does not obey the so called laws or pattern of Hollywood filmmaking, for lack of a better term. Dunkirk is a movie primarily about the event, the evacuation itself, and, consequently, has a very different structure, in terms of narrative. There is no such thing as main characters, or villains, or long lines of dialogue and soldiers sitting around the campfire talking about the life they left behind…

Dunkirk - Still of 400.000 soldiers waiting to be evacuated on the beach

This movie is a tremendous black hole; as soon as it starts, you are pulled towards it, an intense ride from start to finish. The sound editing is top notch and the soundtrack is superb. Hans Zimmer has done it again. Astonishing, how those notes he picks increment the cinematic experience and, in this case, augment the horrors of war. The clocks ticking furiously, the Spitfires’ engines roaring, the vessels’ foghorns…Simply fascinating. The previously mentioned horrors are perfectly displayed on screen without getting visceral or heavy on the gore. Due to the fact of having little to no dialogue on the screenplay, the director created visual storytelling, at its best.

Official Dunkirk Promotional Sea Banner

Dunkirk, being a war movie directed by Nolan, could not be a generically generated shoot them up routine. Oh no, it is much more than that. The film is comprised of multiple timelines that ultimately converge, giving the audience a sense of satisfaction once they fully understand it. The cinematography is in a whole other level of quality. The editing is seamless and every single shot is dripping with visual beauty. Also worthy of note, the action is achieved practically, increasing the realism of the motion picture in question. If you can, try to watch Dunkirk in IMAX, because when the frame breaks, the audience feels it and the sound thumps harder and stronger.

Dunkirk - Still of Tom Hardy in the Spitfire

Moving on to the acting section, a very unusual thing occurs; Tom Hardy, the cast’s most recognizable star, plays a pilot who spends most of the time with his face covered. Cillian Murphy plays a conflicted fighter in a believable way and the rest of the younger actors are entitled to portray the sufferings of the troops; essentially, they deliver the so much needed emotional punch, grounding the story. Having said that, I believe we have a masterpiece in our hands and a serious Oscar contender for 2018.

I rate this movie with an A-. Have you had the chance to watch Dunkirk? In what format? Did you enjoy it? Be sure to jump into the comments' section down below and share your thoughts!