Film Review: Dunkirk
Saturday, July 22, 2017Christopher Nolan returned with yet another stunning picture. Telling the story of the epic evacuation mission that became a turning point in World War 2, recreating Dunkirk was set to be an ambitious challenge and he has done it.
First, the advertising campaign. I feel like the Dunkirk promo has been going on for years and years, in reality it started in 2016. We were given the initial trailer and nothing else for a couple of months, naturally this gap in-between built excitement and got people talking about the project. No real pictures from the set, only when it was supposed to be talked about. The Twitter and Facebook page for Dunkirk, in late June, had the countdown clock in preparation for the next two trailers to be released. Then of course we have the recent weeks of interviews, TV specials etc etc and then the three premieres in London, France and New York. Also, those trailers include absolute trickery and I love it.
If you watched the live stream of the London premiere (Thursday 13th July), you'll have heard that something that is significant to Nolan is authenticity. Nolan likes to use CGI sparingly, on a project he aims to use as much in-camera as the crew possibly can and then change it later. Part of this appeal comes from Nolan's ability to use in-camera effects- reimagining the Batmobile as a cross between a car and tank.
The scale of this film was incredible. Using real boats and planes from the era really brings the action to life, when you're aware of this whilst watching it adds something to your viewing. It's more than watching Dunkirk and enjoying it, you feel as though you're experiencing it.
An example, during the battle sequence, Nolan had over 62 ships out on the water and although the extras in the film (to make up the army) were large; Nolan did use cardboard cut outs of soldiers and military vehicles to create the illusion of a large army.
An example, during the battle sequence, Nolan had over 62 ships out on the water and although the extras in the film (to make up the army) were large; Nolan did use cardboard cut outs of soldiers and military vehicles to create the illusion of a large army.
One aspect, which added so much to the film, was the score. Dunkirk was Hans Zimmer's sixth collaboration with Nolan- previously working together on The Dark Knight Trilogy, Inception (2010) and Interstellar (2014). Dunkirk's soundtrack is moving, in the moment, atmospheric and it really sets the tone for certain points during the film. Personally, my favourite is the track titled Supermarine- it gets the heart racing and the way the melody progresses echoes that of a ticking clock, you feel like time is running out, it puts you on the edge of your seat.
Dunkirk is told from three different points of view...
1.The Mole
Some American audiences assumed was a spy/character in the film. However, the evacuation of soldiers on Dunkirk beach was largely accomplished through two long jetties that protected the beach, these were the Moles. The second, the sea
2. The Sea
Not referring to the large military vessels we see throughout the film. A large number of small ships from the South of England were pressed into service to aid the evacuation. Speedboats, car ferries, Thames Vessels and pleasure boats, all these helped evacuate the soldiers from the beaches. Mark Rylance plays Mr Dawson, who captains his own pleasure boat along with son Peter (Tom Glynn-Carney) and his friend George (Barry Keoghan). People like Mr Dawson, played an imperative part in the evacuation of Dunkirk, without the small vessels Britain would have saved much less men.
3. The Air
We are in the spitfires with Farrier (Tom Hardy)and Collins (Jack Lowden), not only does this enable us to experience the battle from the air, also the problem many pilots faced- fuel shortage. We see Farrier, fight to use his fuel in the most effective way in order to make it to Dunkirk.
Dunkirk may be told from three main points of view, yet Nolan's intricate way of telling stories allows audiences to feel like we're getting so much more. Take when we are watching the story from the Mole, we get soldiers like Tommy and Alex but the turmoil of Commander and the Colonel too. On a deeper level, we see each individual experiencing and coping with things emotionally.
The cast. Let's talk about the cast. Tom Hardy, Kenneth Branagh and Mark Rylance were in talks to join the cast in late 2015, whilst Fionn Whitehead was cast in March 2016 as the lead Tommy. Cillian Murphy, who has worked with Nolan many times, joined later on along with other members. I was aware going in to the film that Fionn Whitehead was set to be the lead character Tommy, to me this meant nothing. When you're in the moment, watching Dunkirk, you're watching the cast as a whole because the story is so much more than one character and you identify with them as a whole, some more than others.
What's truly wonderful about this cast? It's a mix of classic, established actors and fresh, upcoming talent. Whitehead, Styles, Glynn-Carney- all new faces in the acting world. Nolan also knew he wanted an all British cast for his first war film. Can we also just talk about how good looking this cast is- please refer to the end picture.
Dunkirk was filmed in both IMAX and 70 mm. I've seen the film in IMAX and oh my goodness, the picture is perfect! Everything, from Tommy and Alex swimming in the water to Farrier and Collins in the air, is crystal clear. I do want to road trip it down to Manchester just to see the difference really is between IMAX and 70 mm! If I do, I'll let you know.
Before I end this, I'm going to talk about Harry. I would of watched Dunkirk if he wasn't in it anyway, I love war films and I adore Nolan- Harry just added to the excitement. Can I just say, Harry Styles looks BEAUTIFUL in IMAX. He had more lines than anticipated and showed a tremendous performance for a newbie. My argument from the beginning, through everyones doubts, is that if you have been cast in a Nolan film then you're bound to be good. He was.
This was Christopher Nolan's shortest film, with a run time of 1h and 46 mins. Dunkirk will keep you on the edge of your seat, you think you're in the clear and then you're in the water again. You become so immersed in this film and it truly is a cinematic experience. It tells an important piece of history, a story that many are not entirely familiar with. The cast and crew have created a film that keeps audiences engaged whilst relaying some important messages.
For me, I don't think anything in 2017 could beat Dunkirk. An absolute winner,
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| French Premiere |
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