Movie Review: Dunkirk (2017)

In this day and age where superhero films and big action films seem to generate the most noise, leave it to director Christopher Nolan to do another blockbuster that takes us back to a period in history where hope and the bravery of good men led to one of the most documented events in the early days of World War II. Way after finishing "The Dark Knight Trilogy" and following his space adventure flick "Interstellar", the British-American director gives us "Dunkirk" - his latest film epic that details the story of "Operation Dynamo"  - the evacuation of Allied soldiers in the seaside city that the film is named after.

Thanks to Warner Bros., I got to see this spectacular piece of cinematic beauty through IMAX - a format Nolan has mastered and perfected since utilizing first nearly a decade ago with "The Dark Knight". If there was ever a time Nolan maximized his use of IMAX cameras, "Dunkirk" is a shining example of that because 75% of the film was shot using it and is the most compared to his previous films. Now on its second week, this is truly a historical drama that deserves to be viewed and seen - just for how much tension, action, suspense, and fear was put into creating something audiences will find immersive and breathtaking as they see three perspectives covered telling the entire story of this 1940 war film.





After bringing audiences to the stars and doing something a bit for far fetched than what he is normally known for with "Interstellar" a few years back, Christopher Nolan goes back to something more grounded and familiar with "Dunkirk" and explores a time in history that saw many despondent, desperate, and full of helplessness in the "Dunkirk evacuation" - where English, French, and Belgian troops were pinned down and surrounded by German forces and pretty much "fish in a barrel" as far as being targeted and exposed to enemy fire were concerned. Following three perspectives and threads that take place "One Week", "One Day", and "One Hour" away from each other, the film shows audiences how soldiers and civilians from Land, Sea, and Air experienced this wartime event and fought to survive and find a way back home. With Nolan's penchant for telling things non-sequentially, everything converges and allows audiences to piece together the entire story for themselves - using driven narrative, practical effects, and an excellent score by Hans Zimmer which just makes the film all the more resonant with viewers and those who are familiar with this WWII moment.

With an all-star cast featuring longtime collaborators Cillian Murphy and Tom Hardy, as well as fresh faces like Fionn Whitehead, Jack Lowden, and singer Harry Styles, Nolan creates another epic masterpiece in "Dunkirk" that should be viewed and appreciated for its genuine cinematic storytelling and beauty. It's arguably one of the best films for 2017, and IMAX is definitely the way to go when you see this film in theaters. Among his many movies, this ranks up there alongside "The Dark Knight" and "Inception. "In Nolan We Trust" indeed.

Rating - 5/5