#dunkirk review

Here’s the thing about Dunkirk: It is a work of art. Yes, there is very little dialogue and I’ve heard people complain that the characters weren’t super well developed but that is the point. Soldiers weren't looked as people and the humanity and innocence that they did have were promptly stolen from them after every horrible event they underwent. Young men who fought in the war were seen as tools of winning and Nolan does such a wonderful job of exploring that idea. He even has an older character in the film refer back to a familiar statement, “War is old men talking and young men dying.” Nolan doesn’t flesh out the characters a ton because he wanted to show the dehumanization soldiers had undergone during war. 

Let’s talk about this motherfucking score by Hans Zimmer because oh boy. Hans Zimmer is my absolute favorite film soundtrack composer for a reason. He just knows how to capture a scene. Because there is so little dialogue, this film relies heavily on the soundtrack and the sound mixing, which were both executed masterfully. The intensity of each scene is highlighted so well by the score and there were moments where I would sit up straight because the score just made me feel so many intense emotions. I do not know who did the sound mixing in the film and I wish I did because it added so much to the film. The clock ticking in the back and the sound of the gunshots, the bombs, and the planes were fantastic. 

finally watched dunkirk and fuck i loved it so much. i can't express my love enough for christopher nolan and his filmmaking! god, the cinematography... it was so breathtakingly beautiful yet it didn't sugarcoat the tragedy of wars. sometimes i would find myself just staring at the screen like an idiot because the shots were so beautiful.

i was really positively surprised by harry styles' performance. i also didn't think he would have such a big part, i thought it would be more of a typical celebrity cameo but he was genuinely amazing!

another thing that i loved was the way the different storylines got tied together, it was interesting to watch.

the score!! it captured perfectly the film and the feeling (i presume) nolan was going for. hans zimmer is a god.

the plot itself was exciting, heartbreaking and kept me at the edge of my seat the entire time. those 2 hours just flew by because i was so invested in what was happening.

Dunkirk

Wow. This film is brilliant in every single way. 

From the very first frame, Christopher Nolan snatches your attention and does not give it back or loosen his grip until the credits roll. Dunkirk is insanely intense. I haven't held my breath throughout an entire movie since I first saw Whiplash three years ago and that feeling is exhilarating and so rare to have nowadays. 

Knowing Nolan, I walked in having no idea what to expect at all. His take on the war genre proved to be absolutely fascinating and new; completely fresh in comparison to all the other war movies I've seen. We barely know any characters at all and there is barely any dialogue at all. Typically these elements are what drives movies to be great; character arcs and background stories, witty dialogue, deep emotional attachment to the characters and so forth.  But the lack of these very things are actually what makes it so damn good. We are made to feel exactly how the soldiers at Dunkirk would've felt. No speaking or getting to know one another, constant fear, tension, panic and dread. This is totally different from previous war films which have always been awful to watch gore-fests, dialogue intensive, emotional and showing the violence and horrors of war in a physical manner. Dunkirk does not show any blood, gore or shocking violence either. It does not need to. In fact it does the opposite and with its lack of dialogue and character developments, manages to open a new perspective into what is was like to really be a soldier at Dunkirk and how terrifying and tense it was.  This new style makes this film something incredibly engrossing and definitely a film that will remain amongst the great war films. 

The tension that lasted from the first scene to the end was enhanced so powerfully by the soundtrack. As usual Hans Zimmerman manages to perfectly portray the visual emotions and tensions into music and a frightening auditory spectacle. The OST fits so well and remains so tense genuinely keeping you on the edge of your seat. 

Now for more technical talk as to what makes this film a work of art. The shots are incredible. Every use of the camera was chosen exactly the right way. The long shots of the ocean and the beach were astounding. As well as the shots in which hundreds of soldiers duck and fall to the ground it bombings. The synchronicity of everyone is beautiful and terrifying to watch. There is also something so satisfying about the colours and style of shooting. Everything just works and it is beautiful to watch. Visually, the film is stunning but now paired with the sound is what makes this film a real great. Freaking awesome sound. I know good sound when I hear it but anyone would be able to pick up that the sound editing and mixing in this film is bloody insane. Everything sounded so crisp and clear and accurate. Underwater scenes, bombing scenes, bullets riddling metal, planes. The bombs were especially good though. The levelling of the soundtrack with the on scene sound effects was spot on too. 

The cast even though a few were typicals of Nolan were all perfect. Fionn Whitehead was incredibly good considering his age and that this is his first feature film. All respect goes to him because his thunder has been taken away by Harry Styles. Although I must say Harry is really fucking good. He has an incredible knack for mannerisms and body language. He also shows emotion really really well on his face. Never ever saw that level of skill coming from him but then again Nolan does not screw around with casting. Tom Hardy never ceases to amaze me and for me, still remains criminally underrated as an actor. He literally acts with his eyes the whole film and it never ever comes across as less intense than other scenes because he really is just that good. Kenneth Branagh was one of the two most impressive for me. His facial expressions had me copying him when the planes from above approach with the camera slowly pulling away from his face. Spectacular. Basically everyone was brilliant in all honesty. Mark Rylance, my other favourite, proved yet again why he won best Supporting Actor with all his onscreen time showing emotions I never knew could be expressed and seen on a human face. The lack of dialogue is almost unnoticed because of the level of communication through expression in each actors faces and body language. 

Cillian Murphy deserves an Oscar oh my god. 

THE SOUND EDITING WAS SO REAL I ALMOST SHUSHED THE PEOPLE BEHIND ME DURING THE BOAT SCENE WHEN ALEX AND TOMMY TALK FOR THE FIRST TIME. 

Tom Hardy deserves an Oscar NO WAIT MAKE IT ALL OF THEM

HE HAD TEARS IN HIS EYES LOOKING AT HIS PLANE HOLY SHIT AND I NOTICED IT BEFORE BUT WHEN HE HAD MADE THE DECISION TO TURN BACK AND SAW THE BOAT THAT HAD COME FOR COLLINS. JFC HARDY’S ACTING IN THAT ONE SCENE. THE HITCHING BREATHS THE ABORTED TURNING TO LOOK BEHIND HIM THE LOOK IN HIS EYE AKA THE ONLY PART OF HIM YOU COULD CLEARLY SEE. 

The first dog fight is all about Farrier saving his boo from the other pilot WHAT FUCKING THIRD PILOT HES NOT THERE. Clearly Farrier has his priorities in check.

But he clearly respected his superior too? UGH. YES.

When Collins said “Come on, Farrier come on” the first time he mumbled it to himself like he didn’t mean to say it out, the second time he said it for everyone around him to hear. Boy knows Bae’s got his back.

JACK LOWDEN DESERVES AN OSCAR JFC 

10 OSCARS ALONE FOR THAT ‘AFTERNOON’. WHAT A BADASS. NEARLY DROWNED AND JUST GOES HEY, WHATS UP. IM SUPER CHILL

TEN MORE OSCARS FOR HIS EXCITEMENT AT SHOOTING DOWN THAT ENEMY CRAFT

SIXTY FOR HIS FACE WHEN HES LANDING THE PLANE AND CAN HEAR FARRIER CALLING FOR HIM. FFS. HE NEEDS TO CONCENTRATE BUT STILL CLEARLY WANTS TO ANSWER. HIS GRITTED TEETH. JFC.

BOTH FARRIER AND COLLINS LANDING? WTF. THEY’RE CLEARLY THE BIGGEST FLYBOYS IN THE ENTIRE WAR. CRASH LANDING? BETTER MAKE IT COOL AND SAVE MY ASS AT THE SAME TIME. CRASH LANDING? LMAO NOPE BUT THAT STILL DON’T MEAN YOU GET MY BIRD. Idk both those landings were fucking beautiful.

ON THEIR WAY BACK COLLINS IS SAT AT THE BACK OF THE BOAT AND GETS A TEA FROM MR DAWSON. ITS CUTE AF. I BET THEY BONDED. AND THE LOOK ON HIS FACE WHEN PETER SAID HIS BROTHER DIED? AND HOW COLLINS LOOKED BACK AT MR DAWSON LIKE OH AND WORRIED FOR HIM? JUST THAT FACE. I NEED TO WRITE 1000K OF THESE TWO BONDING AND BECOMING FRIENDS. 

BOTH TGC AND JACKS ACTING WHEN PETER HAS COLLINS LOOK AT GEORGE. AND COLLINS SAYS SORRY BUT HE DOESN’T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO BUT CLEARLY KNOWS ITS TOO LATE. AND PETER DOES TOO BUT HE IGNORES IT. 

TGC TELLING THE SHIVERING SOLDIER GEORGE WILL BE FINE DESERVES ALL THE FUCKING AWARDS

KENNETH FUCK I LOVE HIM MORE AT EVERY TURN his face when Farrier saves him??????? Its pure hope and happiness and istg if everyone saw it there would be word peace. 

omfg when Fionn covers his head from the bomb noises. jfc yes. Its more emotionally punching every time YES

I ALMOST CRIED WHEN PETER FISHED HIM OUT OF THE WATER, AWAY FROM THE OIL, AND TOMMY IS HALF DROWNED BUT SAYS TALK ME HOME. take me home. t a k e  m E  H O M E. OW. ow ok why don’t you just gut me it’ll be faster.

When Gibson dies and those chains are heard. ALEX TOLD HIM TO GET OUT THO, AND IS CLEARLY GUILTY WHEN TOMMY LOOKS AT HIM ON THE MOONSTONE.

GEORGES I’LL BE USEFUL AND HOW MR DAWSON LOOKS AT HIM IN WORRY THEY’RE GOING TO WAR GEORGE!!!! AND HATES THE FACT HES HURT, BUT HE ALSO HAS A MISSION TO SAVE ALL THESE MEN IN DUNKIRK AND HE HAS TO KEEP PUSHING ON. BUT HE HESITATES. 

Everything about that father son relationship. EVERYTHING. 5 Oscars for every second they’re on screen.

THE FORESHADOWING IS HONESTLY A THING OF BEAUTY OMG

THE FUCKING SYMBOLISM THREE SOLDIERS THREE PILOTS THREE CIVILIANS THEN ITS TWO FOR TWO FOR TWO... KINDA. Farriers fine. ITS FINE. Hes just missing his boo but he’ll be free soon no worries. @ christopernolan can we have a Saving Private Ryan like sequel? SAVING FARRIER.

ALSO ALEX TELLING CILLIANS CHARACTER JUST WAIT TILL HE GETS TORPEDOED? THE FUCKING FORESHADOWING. when Tommy says “HES LOOKING FOR A WAY OUT IN CASE WE GET HIT”

FUCKING TOMMY TELLING THE FRENCH HES ENGLISH AS HIS FIRST WORDS AND THEN GIBSON TELLING THE ENGLISH HES FRENCH AS HIS ONLY WORDS? ARE YOU CRYING BECAUSE I AM. 

ALEX CALLING OUT AT THE SOLDIERS BY CALLING AT THE HIGHLANDERS

THE DUTCH SAILOR DIED SO THAT HE COULD START THE BOAT. HE JUST WENT FOR IT. RIP MY BRAVE DUTCHMAN. YOU ARE THE HERO OF THIS STORY

First of all, I would like to thank this fandom as a whole, because it took me forever to go see the movie, and while my whole dash has been full of Dunkirk posts for weeks, never once did I get spoilered. So thank you! (and if there’s anybody reading this who hasn’t seen the film yet, don’t worry, I’ll warn you about any spoilers ahead of time.)

As for the film, it’s really really impressively good. I had not expected to like it as much as I did. And there are several reasons why I like it so much.

It’s not overdramatically glorified or patriotic.

It doesn’t focus on gore or slaughter.

It doesn’t focus on the individual characters’ backstories.

It just portrays that moment in time as realistically as possible by showing various human reactions in dilemma situations.

What I really loved about this story is that we know nothing about any of the characters. Like, literally nothing. We don’t know where they come from, what social status they have, what kind of family situation they were pulled out off and hoping to come back to. As for the soldiers, we don’t even know their names, as none of them are mentioned throughout the whole movie. All that matters is how they act within that specific time frame of the film, whether or not they survive and how. And that in itself tells so much about how mankind, as individuals, deals with the morality of life or death situations.