Dunkirk (2017)

User Review

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  TheMovieDiorama

  9 / 10

  Dunkirk is a visceral, sensory and rapid war experience that shows brutality and heroism in technical excellence. When it comes to directing, Christopher Nolan is technically flawless. He has garnered such a prestige (see what I did there) that audiences go to see his films because it has his name on it. I can only think of a handful of directors that have that power over people. When it comes to war movies, it could be full of story (Full Metal Jacket), full of action (Black Hawk Down) or the perfect balance of both (Saving Private Ryan). Dunkirk falls in the action category but interestingly this does boast some drama and tension that elevates the experience entirely. Three narratives that follow different time frames of the evacuation and coincidentally are three types of transport: land, sea and air. An ensemble cast of British talent including the conversion of Harry Styles from pop star to a decent actor. Cillian Murphy...'Nuff said. Mark Rylance, Tom Hardy and Kenneth Branagh were all dependable as well. Nolan has once again taken on a genre and owned it. His directing style is impeccable. The spitfire dog fights were so well filmed, and even the underwater scenes, whilst manic, were clear and damn terrifying. This isn't your typical Hollywood war film where we get back stories of our characters. You are literally strapped in, mid evacuation and experiencing the sheer devastation at maximum velocity...I really admire that approach. Some may not like it, which is fine. I mean a little bit more characterisation wouldn't hurt but I was gripped from start to end. The stand out though...is Hans Zimmer. That musical score was absolutely genius. That. Damn. Ticking. Completely unnerving...and it continues throughout the tight runtime. Goes to show that a score can enhance a film from good to great. I had some issues with the sound editing, particular the dialogue...too much mumbling rather than cohesive words. Dunkirk is close to perfection, maybe after another viewing perhaps?

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