The legion ofChristopher Nolanfans can breathe easy—the filmmaker’s new film is finally here. Nolan tackles a war film for the first time withDunkirk, but unsurprisingly, he does so in a way no one else has before. The film tells the story of Operation Dynamo, a rescue operation in the early days of World War II in which nearly 400,000 British and French soldiers were rescued from the beaches of Dunkirk as the Nazi army closed in. It was a stunning feat of heroism in the face of defeat, and it’s been captured on film before in a jaw-dropping oner inJoe Wright’sAtonement, but here Nolan uses the entire operation as the backbone of his film.
Dunkirkhas had a bit of a divisive response among audiences. Those going in expectingSaving Private Ryanwill surely be disappointed—this is more akin toThe Thin Red Linethan anything, but in truth is very much a wholly unique take on the genre. Nolan has crafted a purely experiential film here, one in which the backstories of the characters don’t matter. Every decision he made is in service of immersing the viewer in this experience, and it’s that immersion that provides the emotional connection to the characters. We don’t feel forFionn Whitehead’s soldier because we know he has a gal waiting back home or because he has a tragic backstory—we feel for him because we’re right there alongside him, struggling to survive in the face of overwhelming pressure.
Personally, I thinkDunkirkis one of Nolan’s best films yet, and a movie that truly shows the power that cinema can hold when in the hands of a confident and ambitious filmmaker. The cinematography byHoyte van Hoytemais otherworldly at times, and the images that Hoytema and Nolan are able to conjure here come close to heavenly in their power.
But that’s me. AndMatt Goldberg’s review is on the site. Now we want to hear from you, dear readers. What did you think ofDunkirk? Was it worth the wait? Did you find the twisty narrative structure effective or confusing? IsHans Zimmer’s score daring or grating? Where does this stand amongst Nolan’s other cinematic efforts? How wasHarryStyles?Sound off in the comments below, and look for plenty more coverage ofDunkirk(including my thoughts on its Oscar chances) on Collider soon.
But first, let’s watch that first teaser trailer one more time…
