Underwhelming and Uninspiring Attempt

Rating: 6/10 (25 July 2017)

The best war films have one major thing in common: they focus on the people rather than the events. If you shuttle us from one event to another without focusing on the people, then the attempt is hollow and shallow. Unfortunately, this is the type of film that Nolan gives us. He moves us from one area with hardly any characterization at all. So why should we be emotionally vested?
I had my doubts as well when this movie was given a PG-13 rating. The best war films of the past forty years or so have all be R-rated films. Storytellers and filmmakers know not to hold back on the horrors of war. Veterans of Dunkirk speak of how it was like being in hell. We don't feel that nearly poignantly enough.
Dunkirk was an event that saw over 800 ships involved in the rescue as well as several hundred British aircraft (not the lone three that we see in the film), of which approximately 177 were lost. Furthermore, the combined efforts of the British/French troops holding off the Germans in the various towns isn't even addressed except for a couple of minutes during the opening scenes. Dunkirk should have been a 3-hour film, encompassing the entire theater that was Dunkirk, with focus on characters in various places to give us the sense of the desperation of what the Battle of Dunkirk was all about. Instead, Nolan chooses to only focus on small aspects of the battle without giving us much substance at all.
The pulsing music ultimately fails as well, utilizing a similar style as the one used to introduce the Joker in Dark Knight. Except, instead of using it for ten minutes to increase the intensity, it's used throughout the entire film! Ultimately, because of its overuse, the music loses its power and effectiveness and ends up becoming just annoying.
Despite its glaring flaws, the cinematography is very well done. The air combat scenes were impressive, as three planes do their best to protect the boats and ships attempting the rescue. Historically, 243 ships were sunk. A prime opportunity should have been utilized to really get a feel for these civilians trying desperately to cross the channel. Instead, we get a wasted effort.
I could easily list over twenty war films that are far superior to Dunkirk. And given that it was one of the pivotal events of World War II, it should have been given the respect that its veterans deserve. The movie lacks cohesiveness as well as emotion. Nolan should refrain from doing another war film. Not only did he fail to utilize characters as the focal points, he failed historically as well, which is nearly a crime in and of itself.