Shrug-worthy, meh ---Nolan's first big disappointing epic (borefest)

Rating: 7/10 (27 July 2017)

DUNKIRK (2017) **1/2 Fionn Whitehead, Aneurin Barnard, Mark Rylance, Tom Hardy, Kenneth Branagh, Cillian Murphy, Barry Keoghan, Tom Glynn-Carney, Harry Styles. Rather disappointing WWII true-life account of the Brits against Germany from filmmaker Christopher Nolan largely stemming from underwhelming performances from the mostly no-name, one-note actors (in spite the sprinkling of vet Nolan regulars who all have the same logy, water-logged deliveries) and the inaudible, low-speaking dialogue with hard to decipher dialogue (who is this? what are they talking about?) and the fact all the young actors look vaguely alike (yes I get it, that's how it is normally in war pics to begin with but this is one trope I find truly maddening and not since Malick's 'The Thin Red Line' have I ever just not given a damn about any of the characters in a war setting (!) Yes it's historical but you know so what? The only saving grace is the IMAX cinematography thanks to lensman Hoyte Van Hoytema and truly I hate to admit this (and I love him!) but Hans Zimmer's relentless drone of a 'score' just.does.not.let.up.for.one.note! Shrug-worthy, meh ---