DUNKIRK

Christopher Nolan possesses a rare ability. He is consistently able to craft films which are sophisticated, profound, and frequently artful, while satisfying the needs of big Hollywood studios by producing lucrative blockbusters. But box office aside, I've found several of Nolan's films, namely "Inception", "Interstellar, and "The Dark Knight" to be massively impressive. While many movie purists argue that films of his tend to be overrated, and there is certainly grounds for those arguments, Nolan's deep involvement in every aspect of the moviemaking process is commendable. That said, I certainly shared the excitement of the film community about his latest output, "Dunkirk". Amidst the high amount of attention that each of his films is destined to receive, Nolan delivers with this gripping, unconventional story of war.

The historical events of the evacuation at Dunkirk, in which the British and French armies of World War II suffered massive casualties and hoped for miracles to assist their fleeing German attacks, do not lend themselves to a traditional war picture. From a practical, strategic standpoint, Dunkirk brought an overwhelming defeat for the British. This is not a war story which justifies the presence of the traditional hero in a film, or scenes of military officials conducting masterful plans. Instead of taking the traditional 'one side against the other' approach, Nolan crafts a characteristically circular, interweaving plot. He divides the narrative into three deeply personal perspectives of the story, including soldiers stranded on the beach, pilots confronting Germans in the air, and English citizens courageously leaving their homes to rescue soldiers. Each storyline creates its own sense of peril. With the beach soldiers, we often feel as if we are in the water fighting to stay afloat and gasping for air alongside them. In the air, a lack of fuel and support leaves pilots seconds away from plummeting into the ocean. The English civilians at sea, while heroically answering the call for assistance, are never safe in the unfamiliar environment of war. The sum of these parts makes "Dunkirk" often appear to be more a disaster film than a war film. It has a tangible presence of fear, achieved without explicitly telling viewers what to be afraid of. Just consider the fact that the audience never actually gets a solid look at a German soldier during the 127 runtime. The danger is in the atmosphere.

As he's done in the past, Nolan employs an ensemble cast which allows each division of the story to flaunt an array of acting talent. Familiar, established figures such as Tom Hardy, Mark Rylance, Kenneth Branagh, and Cillian Murphy are joined by relative newcomers like Fionn Whitehead, Barry Keoghan and Harry Styles. The group of actors successfully brings to life a lean, conservative script from Nolan. Dialogue is sparse throughout "Dunkirk", putting emphasis on the technical aspects and spectacle of the movie. And spectacle is where the film does not hold back. Nolan uses "props" such as genuine airplanes and warships and practical effects as much as possible. From a visual standpoint, "Dunkirk" is at a level of authenticity and grandeur that few war movies reach. I must also mention that this film struck me with sound in a way that few do. When overboard soldiers are fighting for their next breath, drowned out tones submerge us with them, and the roaring of spitfire fighter planes helps us to hear the chaos surrounding the characters. Nolan and frequent collaborator Hans Zimmer chose to include an omnipresent ticking which mixes in with an effectively ominous score to add suspense throughout the picture. As a comprehensive experience, "Dunkirk" is singularly stimulating.

The movie industry's fascination with the Second World War continues, and "Dunkirk" is a unique, worthy installment to the long list of acclaimed war films, as well as to Christopher Nolan's impressive track record. Though countless war movies have captured audiences over the years, the events at Dunkirk seem to have been underrepresented in film. Above all, this picture is important in that it shows the vital heroism of the community which makes the evacuation of Dunkirk such a heavy story in history. Though a tragic defeat from a military perspective, the evacuation represents a victory for our faith in the Everyman.

RATING: 8/10