Nolan does a War Movie

Rating: 8/10 (2 August 2017)

If Christopher Nolan is attached to a project, you know you will be in for something different. Could be for the worse or better, but it will be different. Dunkirk only reinforces that notion as Nolan puts his unique signature on a genre that has faded in recent years.
At its core, Dunkirk has a simple plot but it is the packaging around it that transforms it into a must watch cinematic experience. For its cinematography, Dunkirk doesn't try anything too flashy but instead uses simple techniques to deliver some of the best photography in a war movie, including the best dogfight shown on film ever. The movie relies on the effect sound has on a viewer. It could be too early to call it, but Dunkirk certainly deserves an Oscar for Sound Mixing & Editing.
The actors don't have much to do, as Dunkirk veers away from the melodramatic tropes of the genre and instead allows each actor just enough room to make their characters compelling. Even though no single actor stands out, the ensemble deserves an Academy Award nomination at the very least.
Dunkirk is a movie that deserves to be seen on the big screen and that, along with its reliance on sound, has its drawbacks as the film will not be able to capture the same amount of tension when seen at home.