More so than usual, I don't really know where to start with this post, I have so much to say.
I am just going to have to ramble on and hope you can make some sense of it.
I should probably begin with my overall verdict on the movie and simply put; Dunkirk is a masterpiece. Its one of the best war films I've ever seen and its so beautifully unique in the fact that there is little to no front line infantry combat shown which we are so used to in these movies. None of the gunfire and blood and guts we seem to take a strange joy in watching.
Dunkirk is a 2017 war film written and directed by Christopher Nolan, starring Fionn Whitehead, Mark Rylance, Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, James D'Arcy, Kenneth Brannagh, Harry Styles, Elliott Tittensor and so many others, we'd be here all day if I started.
There is very little dialogue throughout the whole movie and that in itself makes it hit you even harder; when people actually reach the point of being speechless, you are acutely aware that the situation they are in holds a massive amount of gravity.
It overwhelmed me to the point of almost puking up my hot dog, that the mesmerising ensemble of extremely well known faces coupled with little known faces, could make you feel like you've been run over just with the use of their facial muscles.
Even though all of them hardly speak at all, each and every one of them is completely flawless and totally committed. Fionn Whitehead, who in my eyes was the star of the film, had me absolutely glued to his facial movements, body language and every breath he took, the whole time. He's so natural and uninhibited, it pains me.
I'm also going to address the question on 99% of peoples lips - was Harry Styles any good? and the answer is a big fat, YES. He is completely brimming with god given talent - he didn't outshine anyone and he didn't get upstaged by anyone, he held his own with just the right amount of charisma, grace and passion. He belongs in front of a camera so much so that after the initial excitement I might as well have forgotten who he was beyond his character. That's no easy feat when you are as globally famous as him.
The remarkable but painfully tragic story, is told from three different perspectives; land, air and sea. We cut between the story lines and get just enough of each part to really feel what these poor souls went through - I wasn't there, I don't know how historically accurate the movie is but I'd say, from history lessons and my Dad's wonderful snippets of information over the years, that it was pretty spot on. I came out of the cinema feeling crushed beyond words and grateful beyond comprehension. Yes we had our arse handed to us so we had to be evacuated but look how our wonderful country banded together to get us the hell off those beaches. It makes my heart swell. Think about this when you feel like complaining about the country we live in and stop and remember, we wouldn't have the freedom we have if it wasn't for these people.
The script, although minimal, is perfect; the correct words at the correct time and no more. No over indulgent monologues or unnecessary gags, just perfect.
The cinematography is off the bloody scale, the aerial shots will take your breath away. I'm pretty sure its all shot on film as well so you get that beautiful grainy effect of old archival footage or vintage documentary features. If you must see it in IMAX then please go and see it again in 2D, so you really feel the emotional impact of this film rather than being, quite rightly, distracted by the fucking amazing cinematography.
The score, by the formidable Hans Zimmer, is a constant throughout the movie, I don't actually remember getting more than one or two moments of silence, you don't get a breather at all, its relentless but its a really grand and swelling beast of a score that gets you right in the gut.
The timeline is non linear, so at times if you aren't concentrating, you will need a second to remember who is who and where they are but its not to its detriment at all, if anything it gives you a jolt to pay more attention and get even more invested.
This isn't just an action/war movie, its a complete assault on the senses that will really make you think and, if you're anything like me, sob like a child. What I loved so much about it was the complete lack of Hollywood glamour or showmanship nothing was over the top or glossy about it, not one thing. It's story telling at its very best in such an individual way. Its absolutely and completely without fault.
My final thought, is that when you strip away all the cinematic wonder, its a story of human spirit and endurance and how you find bravery in your soul and compassion in your heart, when its needed most.
Please go and see it and fall in love with it as much as I have.
I am just going to have to ramble on and hope you can make some sense of it.
I should probably begin with my overall verdict on the movie and simply put; Dunkirk is a masterpiece. Its one of the best war films I've ever seen and its so beautifully unique in the fact that there is little to no front line infantry combat shown which we are so used to in these movies. None of the gunfire and blood and guts we seem to take a strange joy in watching.
Dunkirk is a 2017 war film written and directed by Christopher Nolan, starring Fionn Whitehead, Mark Rylance, Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, James D'Arcy, Kenneth Brannagh, Harry Styles, Elliott Tittensor and so many others, we'd be here all day if I started.
There is very little dialogue throughout the whole movie and that in itself makes it hit you even harder; when people actually reach the point of being speechless, you are acutely aware that the situation they are in holds a massive amount of gravity.
It overwhelmed me to the point of almost puking up my hot dog, that the mesmerising ensemble of extremely well known faces coupled with little known faces, could make you feel like you've been run over just with the use of their facial muscles.
Even though all of them hardly speak at all, each and every one of them is completely flawless and totally committed. Fionn Whitehead, who in my eyes was the star of the film, had me absolutely glued to his facial movements, body language and every breath he took, the whole time. He's so natural and uninhibited, it pains me.
I'm also going to address the question on 99% of peoples lips - was Harry Styles any good? and the answer is a big fat, YES. He is completely brimming with god given talent - he didn't outshine anyone and he didn't get upstaged by anyone, he held his own with just the right amount of charisma, grace and passion. He belongs in front of a camera so much so that after the initial excitement I might as well have forgotten who he was beyond his character. That's no easy feat when you are as globally famous as him.
The remarkable but painfully tragic story, is told from three different perspectives; land, air and sea. We cut between the story lines and get just enough of each part to really feel what these poor souls went through - I wasn't there, I don't know how historically accurate the movie is but I'd say, from history lessons and my Dad's wonderful snippets of information over the years, that it was pretty spot on. I came out of the cinema feeling crushed beyond words and grateful beyond comprehension. Yes we had our arse handed to us so we had to be evacuated but look how our wonderful country banded together to get us the hell off those beaches. It makes my heart swell. Think about this when you feel like complaining about the country we live in and stop and remember, we wouldn't have the freedom we have if it wasn't for these people.
The script, although minimal, is perfect; the correct words at the correct time and no more. No over indulgent monologues or unnecessary gags, just perfect.
The cinematography is off the bloody scale, the aerial shots will take your breath away. I'm pretty sure its all shot on film as well so you get that beautiful grainy effect of old archival footage or vintage documentary features. If you must see it in IMAX then please go and see it again in 2D, so you really feel the emotional impact of this film rather than being, quite rightly, distracted by the fucking amazing cinematography.
The score, by the formidable Hans Zimmer, is a constant throughout the movie, I don't actually remember getting more than one or two moments of silence, you don't get a breather at all, its relentless but its a really grand and swelling beast of a score that gets you right in the gut.
The timeline is non linear, so at times if you aren't concentrating, you will need a second to remember who is who and where they are but its not to its detriment at all, if anything it gives you a jolt to pay more attention and get even more invested.
This isn't just an action/war movie, its a complete assault on the senses that will really make you think and, if you're anything like me, sob like a child. What I loved so much about it was the complete lack of Hollywood glamour or showmanship nothing was over the top or glossy about it, not one thing. It's story telling at its very best in such an individual way. Its absolutely and completely without fault.
My final thought, is that when you strip away all the cinematic wonder, its a story of human spirit and endurance and how you find bravery in your soul and compassion in your heart, when its needed most.
Please go and see it and fall in love with it as much as I have.