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Our movie guy, John McCann, says believe the hype about Dunkirk because it’s a stunning film…
With every movie theater showing trailers for Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk since about January of this year, to claim that this was one of the most anticipated movies of the year would be a huge understatement.
But more importantly, was this film worth all the hype and has this director kept his rich vein of form going to produce a film worthy of its hugely historical relevance?
The answer thankfully is a most definite yes, as Nolan delivers, quite simply, one of the movies of the year.
This 107 minute feature deals with the evacuation of Allied troops from the French city of Dunkirk during World War II before Nazi forces could take hold and submerges its audience in the harrowing events of the time.
In fact, Nolan engulfs his audience in this film to the point that those who suffer from motion sickness of any kind may occasionally find this an uncomfortable watch.
Hans Zimmer’s heart-stomping score and Hoyte Van Hoytema’s breathtaking cinematography also contribute to this powerful, yet harrowing tale that grips the senses and emotions of its audience and immerses them fully in this traumatic time in world history.
The exceptional cast (which includes Tom Hardy, Kenneth Brannagh and Mark Rylance) also add to this feature, by letting their mannerisms and facial expressions take precedence over vast amounts of dialogue as the viewer is subjected first hand to the horrors and personal cost of war.
Comparisons to Saving Private Ryan are inevitable as both films deal with the terror of war in a unique and highly personal and engulfing fashion, attacking the viewers senses in a violent and frighteningly realistic manner, but in my opinion Dunkirk is an upgrade on Spielberg’s 1998 feature.
A combination of superb storytelling, stunning visuals and a magnificent score in the hands of such a magnificent film maker who seems to improve with each feature he directs, produces a near two hour edge of your seat thrill ride, that will hold its place quite comfortably on most cinemagoers top five list of films seen in 2017. A triumph.
4.5/5
For more of John McCann’s movie reviews, check out his Facebook page here and website here
