Mesmerizing to the Mind, Chilling to the Bone

Rating: 10/10 (1 September 2017)

Christopher Nolan. The master visionary whose prestigious reputation alone creates enormous excitement for any film his name is attached to, a distinction that few, if any directors have. Films such as The Dark Knight, Inception and Interstellar, to name a few, are held at the height of standard for the film industry, and now, Nolan can add another to his mountain of masterpieces; Dunkirk.
To put into simple terms, this is Nolan's film, through and through. As the director and sole writer, he crafts his vision of the historic events that transpired at Dunkirk into an absolute spectacle. Nolan's name is the definition of cinematography, and with his dedication to practicality and shooting with film over digital, Dunkirk marks itself as one of the most visually stunning movies I have ever seen. The scale and authenticity creates an enthralling atmosphere, one that didn't allow my eyes to leave the screen. Few directors can write a film largely devoid of dialogue and still draw you in with its visual display alone, but lo and behold, Dunkirk does just that.
Dunkirk's narrative is thematically entrenched, with Nolan's writing largely focused on the greater, larger story of survival in a time of desperation. As stated, there's hardly any dialogue, you barely get to know the character's names, yet you feel emotionally ensnared throughout the 106 min run time. The flawless movement and pacing between three major settings (The Mole, The Air and The Sea) creates a superb execution of intense storytelling. Every action sequence is heart-racing, with the overwhelming feeling of danger looming in every action scene. Dunkirk is one of the most riveting World War II-set stories in film history, surpassing the likes of even 'Saving Private Ryan'.
As visually stunning as Dunkirk is, the film would be nothing without the unparalleled musical mind of Hans Zimmer. Zimmer's genius is on full display in Dunkirk. The score is nothing short of captivating, with even the simple ticking of a pocket watch (how it was actually recorded) having the ability to drive you to a point of bursting at the level of intensity and anticipation being showcased on screen. The entire audible side of Dunkirk is chillingly wonderful. The roar of a fighter plane, the startling crack of a gun shot, or the massive bang of a sudden explosion all help produce that astonishing atmosphere, the film simply wouldn't be the same without the masterful audio.
Nolan did his research, and found that, like the soldiers trapped in Dunkirk, his actors needed to (mostly) be young and inexperienced to convey that sense of fear to the audience. The cast is genuinely spectacular. There's the veteran anchors of the film such as Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, Kenneth Branagh and Mark Rylance but its the young up-and-comers that really stand out. Fionn Whitehead, Aneurin Barnard and even pop music star Harry Styles all portray their characters wonderfully, largely using their facial expressions and inner emotions to invoke the sense of danger the film presents to the audience. I was moved and felt connected to these characters, a great testament to the acting prowess of the cast.
Christopher Nolan. His top-tier ability has propelled him into levels rarely seen in cinema, a level of legendary status. The vision for Dunkirk was a bold one indeed, but the artistic wisdom and willpower of Nolan fuels the film into a mesmerizing sight to behold, a legitimate masterpiece and what some would consider to be Nolan's magnum opus.
10/10