Greatest WWII film since Saving Private Ryan

Rating: 9/10 (26 July 2017)

Christopher Nolan has mastered the intelligent blockbuster; his films are precise, mature and thought provoking without skimping on the spectacle. This war picture, based on incredible true events, proves he can bring that same balance to even the most serious of films. Dunkirk follows three interlocked stories: young soldier Tommy (Fionn Whitehead) tries to escape the hellish beach of the titular French town, fisherman Mr Dawson (Mark Rylance) is employed by the Navy to head across the English Channel, and fighter pilot Farrier (Tom Hardy) protects the skies as best as he can. Not as straightforward as it may sound, the narrative is a meticulous web of apprehension, struggle and dismay. Just when it appears the tide is turning—literally and figuratively—another hurdle presents itself. A movie of few words, Nolan allows the awe-inspiring set pieces and commanding performances to speak for themselves. A lasting shot of Kenneth Branagh's face as he witnesses something the audience isn't privy to resonates more than any monologue could hope for. Thanks to Nolan's insistence on practical effects, the action sequences are raw, exhilarating and a master class in building tension. Utilising real aircraft allows for some utterly breathtaking aerial dogfights, whilst the large-scale ship sequences are nightmarishly nerve shredding. Credit must be given to both Hoyte Van Hoytema and Hans Zimmer too. Hoytema's cinematography, whether underwater or tens of thousands of feet in the air, is beautiful; Zimmer's score, all ticking clocks and suspenseful opera, unsurprisingly brilliant. With cracking visuals, stirring set pieces and powerful acting, Dunkirk is the greatest WWII film since Saving Private Ryan.