A Triumph of Analog Filmmaking

Rating: Null/10 (28 July 2017)

DUNKIRK is a triumph of analog filmmaking*. It's the kind of physical old fashioned movie-making that demands the literal BIG screen to tell. Seeing it back to back with the CGI-fest VALERIAN couldn't make the contrast more vivid. But, if DUNKIRK were only a technical feat that would be only a measured victory. Fortunately, Director Christopher Nolan and his cast and crew have delivered a knockout.
Nolan adopts a 'you are there' approach from three perspectives: Land, Sea & Air. Little attempt is made at a greater narrative, although the scenes with Kenneth Branaugh as the Commander give some bare-bones context. But, the bulk of the picture is straight-up in your face (especially in 70MM Imax!) action that plunges you into the events. This isn't the first film to do this, despite what you may have read (there's the fine 2007 Israeli film LEBANON, most of BLACK HAWK DOWN and others). What Nolan does well here is to not make the action too disjointed despite the triple perspective AND a incongruent timeline (the land, sea and air components all take place over differing lengths from one hour to one week). Further, Nolan is able to give us intimate moments amidst the grand battlefield. The casting is impeccable with Mark Rylance, Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, Fionn Whitehead and others all bringing their moments to the fore when called upon.
Hoyte Van Hoytema's cinematography is, naturally, the biggest tech credit, but Hans Zimmers ticking time bomb of a score and Lee Smith's editing are also top notch along with the huge cast & crew. Like the Dunkirk operation itself, this is a team effort on the grandest scale. A few scenes don't really work and the epilogue could have been dispensed with. I'm certain that Nolan wanted the audience to exhale after the intensity of the main story, but, I didn't feel it was necessary nor all that well done. Minor quibbles aside, this was an enveloping experience (my legs were literally shaking with nerves) that needs to be seen on the biggest 70MM film screen you can get to. *(yes, I know there was some digital involved)