Dunkirk Review
It’s become a tough task to make a memorable World War II movie. There’s plenty of stories that are ripe for the big screen treatment but as we get more and more, it’s harder and harder to stand out from the pack.
In that regard, Dunkirk is a slam dunk. It’s truly unlike anything that I’ve ever seen before and I think that’s the reason I found a lot of positives and negatives with the film. Dunkirk’s strength lies in the fact that it’s a real experience. Beautiful shots, unbelievable tension, and incredibly immersive sound design are only a few ways to describe its technical achievements. I was never bored and the story structure always kept me on my feet trying to anticipate its next move. Movie theaters were made for films like this.
At the same time, I think that’s were Dunkirk may fall short. Part of the fun is the chaos of not knowing what exactly is going on or how everything is going to come together. I’m not absolutely certain, but I think a lot of that may be lost on repeat viewings. There’s also the question of how well it’s going to transfer to the small screen. A major part of Dunkirk is that it’s such an immersive experience (both in its visuals and sound) and I wonder if that can still happen watching it on your TV.
Regardless of that, I always respect Christopher Nolan for being different. Even if he chooses to tackle a familiar subject, he always tells it from a unique perspective. His creativity as a filmmaker is something that sets him apart.
The question is if that sometimes leads to movies that are more style over substance. In a way, I think that may be the case with Dunkirk. Technically, it’s flawless. The cinematography is top notch, the editing adds to the excitement, and Hans Zimmer’s score is riveting. I’m not sure if that’s the case with the storytelling.
One one hand, I love how the movie shows how the same event can be viewed and experienced from so many perspectives. A single incident can mean so many different things to different people. Dunkirk is also great in how it builds suspense and conveys the brutality of war. Once you enter the fray, all bets are off and it’s just a betting game whether or not a bomb or bullet is going to come your way.
Unfortunately, I also felt that Dunkirk is so stylized and untraditional, that I was left a little unsatisfied. It doesn’t follow the traditional story elements and that’s the reason it doesn’t feel fully developed. There’s no central message, through line, or character that I was able to attach myself with. There’s also some story elements that didn’t quite make sense or get fully explained. The dialogue is sometimes hard to hear.
If I haven’t made it clear, I’m having trouble wrapping my head around Dunkirk. I’m not sure what to make of it and I think it’s going to take a while until I do. One thing I can say with certainty is it’s definitely not Nolan’s best movie. Still, there’s a lot to like and you have to see it in the theatre. 7.3/10
