7 reasons to watch Dunkirk and re-watch it
Jul 24, 2017 · 2 min read
- 70% of final film was shot in IMAX — the most of any film released.
- The visual experience was not innovative just because of IMAX. The story feels visceral without any gratuitous gore. Unlike Saving Private Ryan, bloodshed is implied but barely shown in Dunkirk. Likewise, Nazi presence is palpable throughout but we don’t see any German soldiers until the end. Even then, they are blurry shadows.
- The dialogue is sparing (perhaps the reason why Jonathan Nolan, a frequent collaborator of his brother Chris in script writing, was not involved). In its place are exchanges of glances and telling facial expressions. In other words, Nolan counted on acting over speaking. And it works.
- The story is told not only from three perspectives but in fact three different timelines. It is confusing at times (similar to Memento but perhaps not as challenging) but one is able to gradually reconcile them after the fact.
- Mark Rylance. Tom Ford. Kenneth Branagh. The acting is superb across the board, and the film has been designed to depend on this (see #4). But these three stood out. This may be Branagh’s finest work on the big screen since Dead Again. His eyes are used on more than one occasion to indicate the arrival of a climatic moment. Tom Ford manages to depict stoic heroism underneath aviator goggles and hat. Most notably, Mark Rylance’s face is a symbol of the civilians who ventured into unknown dangers to answer their nation’s call.
- The score. With words kept to a minimum, Nolan relies on music to help tell the story. And Hans Zimmer delivers. No surprise — he is a 10-time Oscars nominee (winning only once).
- It is another Chris Nolan masterpiece. If you are like me, that’s good enough.
