8/10

Rating: 8/10 (4 August 2017)

Anything that Christopher Nolan puts out there is an automatic must see for me. So I was eager to watch this one on the big screen. I think the thing that excited me most was that on the face of things Dunkirk is completely different to the films we've seen from Nolan in the past.
Nolan has never done anything close to a war film before. But perhaps that wasn't surprising as what we see in Dunkirk is less a war film and more a drama/thriller. It is also the first time we've seen a bio pic from Nolan, which intrigued me more. We're so used to seeing Nolan create amazing original ideas for the screen I couldn't imagine him not only making a bio pic but also remaking a film. Nolan is however my favourite director of all time and I could only respect that he as an artist was doing something different. And with a history like his who was I to doubt his judgement.
I would struggle to be anything but bias in my review of Dunkirk. The way it's filmed as in all Nolan pictures is outstanding. Never before has a director made films so well suited for Blu ray. You really need to witness his movies in the best quality. So if you're able i'd recommend seeing it in an IMAX cinema. A luxury I don't have in my town.
I should also mention the soundtrack. something i'd seen a lot of people rant and rave about. So I payed close attention. It is a sure thing that this film will be nominated for best soundtrack at the Oscars and don't be surprised if it wins. The ticking clock that fades in and out during the film is hauntingly beautiful and being that it's subtle, doesn't distract from the elegant simplicity of the visuals.
The lack of dialogue was another beautiful artistic choice from Nolan. the silence speaks volumes and what you're paying to see isn't a soap opera, it isn't about personality's, characters and relationships. It's about survival, this film is art in it's simplest, rawest form.
The different layers of the earth depicted (Water, Land, Sky) show how the war took different forms but ultimately for the same cause. With the lack of dialogue for long periods of the film it was surprisingly the lack of words that taught us more about the characters and their motivations and struggles. I'm lead to believe the characters are also based on real people which isn't hard to believe given the authenticity of what we see.
If any part of me was disappointed it would be with the amount I actually learnt about the battle of Dunkirk. I fully appreciate what I saw on screen, it was heart breaking to watch and despite a few extremely raw scenes. I'd say it was presented tastefully. But I would have liked to have learnt a bit more about the battle of Dunkirk however there is the possibility i should have read up on my history before watching the film. Is it after all Christopher Nolan's job to educate or is it just his job to entertain.
I'll give the film 8/10 for what was a work of art. That's not to say it's Nolan's best work, but i've seen much worse films win Oscars.