Movie: Dunkirk
Direction: Christopher Nolan
Cast: Fionn Whitehead, Tom Glynn-Carney, Jack Lowden, Tom Hardy, Harry Styles, Aneurin Barnard, James D’Arcy, Barry Keoghan
Music: Hans Zimmer
Cinematographer: Hoyte van Hoytema
Editor: Lee Smith
Genre: Action, Drama, History, War
Rating: ∗∗∗∗
What is it about: It’s a war-film, which is set based on true events during the evacuation of Allied forces British, Belgium and France, who are surrounded by Germans at Dunkirk during the World War II. What happens during this forms the crux of the story directed by Christopher Nolan.
Why it’s disappointing: This could stay put for this movie.
What to watch out for: The film had 3 perspectives land, air and water. And these three were visually narrated with minimal dialogues, with just details forming an intense suspense. This aspect of the film is truly a genius, because it was done perfectly, might look done with ease but the presentation will make you think about the work behind that. It’s Nolan, who can keep the ball rolling with the traditional format keeping it alive. He unravelled the emotions perfectly without overly dramatizing it.
The film is surrounded with an amazing score which has a tempo of the heartbeat. It intensifies as the beat goes higher and mellows down when required. Hans Zimmer did a brilliant job in correlating the audio and visual so well, that you sink in to it.
The film’s beauty is its capture on the best of the format 70MM IMAX FILM CAMERAS, to be honest one of the best in recent times. There are scenes in the film, which literally gives you a feel of a 3D immersion without the glasses, especially the “Spitfire” sequences. IMAX was a boon in disguise, in spite of the availability of laser projection in consolation to Film Projection, you still enjoy the grandeur of the film, with no hindrance. Hoyte van Hoytema is a genius of a cinematographer who has a sharp eye for details.
Editing by Lee Smith was at its best, he cut the film precisely to the extent it was intended to convey the message crisply.
This was a film, which had a long list of cast. And the best part is every character did a commendable job. You really can’t pick a favourite, but Tom Hardy does get his fans go hooting in the cinema hall.
Verdict: Nolan is one director, who gets the globe going gaga over the techniques he use in his films. And someone who can do justice to the traditional methods. He handled the emotions well, keeping it intense throughout unfolding a suspense tastefully. Definitely worth a watch, and please do catch it on an IMAX or a large format.
