Adaptations of anything are a hard nut to crack, mainly because of what needs to be added and taken away in the translation to the screen; thus, this problem is magnified when its an adaptation of a real historical event. Oftentimes, the best films taking inspiration from true events try not to perfectly nail each little detail of that moment; instead, they attempt to capture the spirit and/or essence of it. Dunkirk does so and succeeds on multiple levels.
Some have complained about a supposed lack of character development and I have a simple rebuttal to that: this movie really isn't about the characters (at least, in a traditional sense). Sure, every cast member shows up and brings their A-game (plus, there's plenty of lovely visual storytelling involving Mark Rylance and company); however, director extraordinaire Christopher Nolan's main goal is plant the audience firmly in the hellish experience of those who lost their lives during this infamous battle. On that note, this film is a remarkable accomplishment. Even with a PG-13 rating, Nolan delivers a film that'll have you on edge from the very first frame.
Technically speaking, this is a filmmaker's film. Everything from the editing to the pacing to the cinematography is absolute gangbusters; yet, my favorite thing about it on the technical side is the score from Hans Zimmer. His compositions for Dunkirk add an extra layer of pure intensity to scenes that are already pretty suspenseful.
Is this the crown jewel of Christopher Nolan's filmography like many are claiming it to be? Its hard to say truthfully. What I can say with confidence is that Dunkirk is one of the most exhilarating, immersive and intense experiences you'll have at the movies this year.
DUNKIRK gets an...
EXCEPTIONAL out of TEN
While I couldn't vouch for this personally, I'd highly recommend seeing in this in 70mm or IMAX if you have that opportunity.
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