The most absorbing technical marvel since Gravity

Rating: 8/10 (26 July 2017)

Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk is making headlines as the best war movie in years, and arguably Nolan's best film. The former I can understand and I don't agree with the latter, but that's not really important. I think most people will agree that Christopher Nolan's gripping direction as well as the film's cinematography, sound, and special effects all amount to one of the most impressive technical marvels in years. Dunkirk takes the war genre to a new level, similar to the way Saving Private Ryan did about twenty years ago, with absorbing action scenes that create an authentic war feel. Saving Private Ryan is not the best analogy to this movie though. To me, the best comparison is Gravity (2013), - both gripping stories about survival under insurmountable odds that keeps the audience invested with its technical wizardry.
Dunkirk follows three stories at different times during the ill-fated battle. One story follows a British air force pilot played by Tom Hardy in what are the best dog fight scenes scenes in years. Hardy is once again covered by a mask, but it makes no difference. The second story is about a British infantryman trying to get off the beaches of Dunkirk at any cost. The third story is about a group of civilians (one played by Mark Rylance) who assist with the rescue effort in their ordinary boat. The chronological narrative tricks will remind Nolan fans of his first film, Memento, but it's no where near as complicated. Eventually the stories intersect. The one element uniting all of these stories is the struggle for survival. While some characters are paralyzed with fear, others manage to stay brave and fight the good fight. You barely see the Nazis, and the violence is never graphic, but you feel the horror of war through the sound of the bombs, the sound of the bullets hitting metal near the soldiers, and the sheer desperation in the eyes of the soldiers.
The technical features of the film have deservedly received the most acclaim, but the cast's performances are all commendable. Hans Zimmer's score is also his best in years. The music will get your heart pumping.
Of all the praises I have heaped on this film, I do have some reservations. I am not sure how well this film will hold up on a small screen. Without the big screen to take in the picture, and the speaker system of a movie theater, I don't know how gripping the movie will be. It may be just fine, but I think the film will lose something on DVD. The lack of a traditional story and developed characters may harm the film's repeat value.
Still, if you're going to see one action spectacle this summer, see Dunkirk in IMAX. You must see this movie on the biggest screen you can. The sounds and the sights will make you feel like you are really there.