A technical triumph at the slight cost of character.

Rating: 8/10 (12 May 2018)

Technically, 'Dunkirk (2017)' is a technical triumph, with the direction and cinematography being almost flawless. It's true that it is a cinematic experience unlike almost any other, masterfully creating nail-biting suspense and pulse-pounding tension with ease - not to mention a palpable practicality. Yet this, the feature's biggest strength, is also perhaps its biggest flaw, because it's much more an experience than a traditional film, relying on spectacle far more than story or character and, as such, sometimes struggling to provide any engaging emotional connection other than on a surface level. Christopher Nolan normally creates compelling character-driven narratives far more intelligent than typical blockbuster fare, yet here his focus is entirely on the visceral. Make no mistake, this is still far more intelligent than typical blockbuster fare. Its structural shifting is necessary for the sake of pace (allowing each story to reach its respective finale at the same time), but it does sometimes cause a bit of confusion. Nevertheless, this is a compelling and effective experience. It's brilliant in its own way. 8/10