Dunkirk Review

[originally posted to social media in July 2017]

    Yesterday I watched Dunkirk and have now mulled it over enough to share my thoughts. Strap in, I've got a lot to say!

    I liked it but can't say I loved it, however it was one of the best made films I think I've ever seen. It was truly a master at work with every detail being exactly as it should be. Breath-taking cinematography, amazing ensemble acting, genius control of storylines, just perfection.

    Acting wise, my dear Kenneth Branagh stood out for me, being superb as usual, Mark Rylance commanded the screen in his soft spoken way, and yes, even Harry Styles did a thoroughly convincing job (to the point where it took me 3/4 of the film to realise it was him), but this was truly a group effort, with the high quality being consistent across the board. All the more remarkable when you consider that the film barely has any dialogue, just the necessary information being shared between characters with none of the histrionics and forced speeches so many war movies indulge in.

    I never thought I would be able to stand a movie that had music from beginning to end, much less actively enjoy such a soundtrack. But Hans Zimmer maintains an impossible 1h45 of continuous tension, sometimes abating a little, sometimes rising, brilliantly done through a constant heartbeat or ticking effect, so that when a moment of silence finally comes right at the end, we all breathe a sigh of relief. And his variation on Nimrod had me grinning!

    Visually it was one of the most amazing movies I've ever seen with a contrast of unending vistas and claustrophobic interiors. And those aerial scenes! How?! I haven't yet read up on the film so I am left mouth agape with the utter realism of those shots. Though I suspect, this being Nolan, that the grand majority were achieved by actually flying historic planes or replicas, rather than use vast amounts of CGI.

    Between the music and the three not-quite-simultaneous storylines, I had the sense of my feelings being masterfully manipulated, of feeling at every moment exactly what the director wanted me to feel.

    All in all, I highly recommend the film and do yourself a favour and watch it on IMAX if you possibly can.

[June 2020 edit, after rewatching the film at home]

    I can now safely say I like the film very much indeed and was very chuffed to confirm that my hunch about how the plane scenes were filmed was correct!


Conclusion: Absolutely! [what's this?]


Dunkirk came out in 2017.


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