Dunkirk

My blood pressure is still rushing hours after seeing this movie. Knowing the outcome of this historic battle and knowing Christopher Nolan's track record of suspenseful films, I should have taken an anti-anxiety pill at the start. As soon as the credits began to roll, I was left with a lingering adrenaline rush; my face displaying stun and awe. I went into this movie with anticipation and high expectations and was definitely not disappointed. I would warn you of spoilers, but if you don't already know what happens in this movie, you need to stop what you are doing and pick up a history book...NOW.

From the moment the movie begins, we already get the sense of urgency from the British and French to flee. We follow a young British private, Tommy, played by up-and-coming actor Fionn Whitehead, as he makes his way to the open beaches of Dunkirk. Men stand in orderly lines with defeat and fatigue written on their faces. They stare out at the open waters and wait for aid and evacuation. It's at this point when the genius music composition of Hans Zimmer begins to tick away. Upon further listening to the soundtrack, I noticed Hans has incorporated the droning sounds of spitfires and gun rattles into the underlying intense composition. The variations continue throughout the remainder of the movie which puts the viewer into a state of stress similar to the soldiers. I was literally on the edge of my seat for the full 2 hours.

At the start of the film, we are introduced to three different settings: the mole, the sea, and the air. All three have their own stories which tie neatly together at the end. The mole is where we have the men stranded like sitting ducks on the beach as the Germans close in. Commander Bolton (based on Canadian officer James Campbell Clouston), played by Kenneth Branagh, stands at the end of a war-torn dock overlooking the doomed soldiers. I'm a big fan of Sir Branagh's work as an actor and director, but I was a little disappointed to see that his acting didn't quite extend past the looks of terror he expressed every time an air raid occurred. Still, my heart sank with dread whenever it did.

On the sea, we are introduced to Mr. Dawson (an unfortunate character name for someone on a boat in my opinion), played by Mark Rylance. He is one of the many civilians who, in history, were called upon to sail out on their leisure boats to rescue men from sinking vessels and ultimately the beach. While making his way to the shores of Dunkirk with his son and a friend on board, he comes across a lone survivor, here played by Cillian Murphy, on a sinking destroyer. This soldier obviously is shell shocked and pleads to the men on board to turn back and go home. Mr. Dawson stands firmly against this and reminds that they all have a duty to their country. He also explains that there will not be a home to go to if they leave Dunkirk in a massacre.

Meanwhile, in the air, we meet two Royal Air Force officers, Collins and Farrier, respectfully played by Jack Lowden and Tom Hardy. They are given the task to take down any German spitfires they come in contact with. Now that most of the destroyers have been demolished, they are basically the only hope for the lives seeking aid in the water and on land. However, circumstances become tense as the two start to lose fuel as time passes.

Speaking of time passage, I was not a fan of how they transitioned between scenes and flashbacks. It was a little choppy in my opinion and I've seen better from Mr. Nolan. Despite this, I was willing to forgive him due to the absolutely breath-taking cinematography displayed by Hoyte van Hoytema. The stunning scenes looking down on the waters/beach from the air make you feel like you are right there in the cockpit with Tom Hardy. In my opinion, the enormity of it all can be absorbed best through IMAX, especially since this is the first feature film to use IMAX cameras in hand-held capacity for the vessel scenes. Visually, this movie should be considered for major awards this upcoming season.

All in all, I give this a solid 4 stars and highly recommend viewers to see this movie at least once. If you like war-themed movies then this is perfect for you. If you don't usually care for this genre, like me, then I still suggest you see it for the quality and historical value behind this masterpiece.

"We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we will never surrender!" - Winston Churchill