A Technical Masterpiece which just falls a tad short of being a classic

Rating: 8/10 (6 December 2017)

Dunkirk is not easy to watch. It's dark, relentless, & demanding to watch. So that sets it apart from other Nolan movies at the very start. Prestige, Inception, Memento, Interstellar are movies which people keep going back to. However, Dunkirk never intends to be like these movies. Not for a single moment. It's an experience. Once in a lifetime is enough. Nolan's screenplay shows the evacuation in three tracks set in different but close time lines, which come together at the end. There are many characters. Perhaps, more than we would have liked. A plethora of prolific performers, including a unexpectedly good Harry Styles perform their small but significant roles. Dunkirk is a technical masterpiece. Authentic props coupled with excellent cinematography and a ticking time bomb like explosive score by Hans Zimmer are the strongest points of the movie. Given the dearth of dialogues in the movie, these things together create a symphony of sorts which seems to possess a language of its own. As I said, it's a experience which shouldn't be missed. That being said, I can't say I enjoyed this movie thoroughly. Given its technical brilliance, it's a must watch. But however, the fact that Nolan doesn't make us sympathize with any one single character, hampers the viewing experience a bit. The emphasis here is on the event itself, and not on who were in it. You will feel the fear, the claustrophobia, but however you will never feel bad for the characters on screen. It sounds strange. But it is what it is. Overall, Dunkirk may not end up being a Nolan fan-favorite, but that doesn't undermine this technically brilliant movie. But surely adds another feather to the much celebrated filmmaker's cap. At least he dares to do dream big. Awaiting his next!