Major Disappointment

Rating: Null/10 (21 July 2017)

Been looking forward to Dunkirk to come out forever (since there were trailers for months). Love this director and his other works. What a disappointment in so many ways. Without dropping a spoiler, the story telling has a complex structure. If you don't understand it, the rest of the movie is mostly confusing. I felt kind of dumb when my friend explained it to me after the movie. He's an expert in military history and it took him half the film to figure it out.
I also love Hans Zimmer and can listen to hours of his work (and do). This score could leave one with PTSD. Rather than let the story induce an emotional response, the music is overbearing, telling us what to feel. Personally I got that this was a tense situation, and I didn't need fingers on the chalkboard music to tell me that.
Then there's the characters. It is sometimes impossible to distinguish one British soldier from another (apparently, they were all the same height with the same hair color and same haircut). For me the only compelling part of the story was that of a family on one of the civilian rescue boats. Excellent acting and story telling there. However, Kenneth Branagh, another favorite, either forgot what a brilliant actor he is, or was extremely limited by the script and director. His primary job seemed to be standing in one spot,looking well dressed, with no emotion, and appearing nothing like his dirty, desperate, exhausted, hungry and thirsty soldiers.
There is some good in the movie especially the photography. But, I can't remember when I have been so disappointed by a film. I seem to be in the minority here. But, please, please don't give Best Picture to this movie.