Dunkirk (2017)

It's hard to evaluate a film that has no real protagonist. Hell, most of the characters in this instalment by Christopher Nolan isn't even mentioned by name. That's a huge chance to take as you risk the audience not caring as much about what actually happens to the characters.

No worries, though. Nolan is always in control and he has a plan. This movie is end-to-end tension and excitement as he never lets up for more than a minute. Particularly the last hour is exasperating to watch as there is so much going on at the same time, so many hail Mary's and so much devastation that it leaves you quite flabbergasted. And I do love a film that demands you sit up and pay attention.

But back to the lack of stories for characters. There are no cut-ins of grieving widows (We were Soldiers), no look back from old silly sodds (Saving Private Ryan) no bonding with your mates over drugs or fatigue (Platoon and Saving Private Ryan) and no lingering mothers waiting for their sons by the stow (also Saving Private Ryan, Spielberg always was a sucker for sentimentality). And there is no McGuffin or someone to save as it's all about waiting to be evacuated and constant survival under horrible circumstances. What you get is war. And masses. Not to mention water. Combining the latter two, means there is a lot of drowning, panic and claustrophobia. It's absolutely riveting, in a rather horrible way.

It's refreshing for a director to cast aside all convention and just make a film that is utterly realistic and direct in what it does. And he really does his research here. He does not fall into the trap of endless gasoline bombs, heroic gestures nor quid pro quo. The bombs are mostly very loud thuds, and he makes good use of the single, narrow strip of smoke from a hit fighter jet. Even the music is stripped to a bare minimum as Zimmer bombards us with either very short or excruciatingly long notes, often by a single instrument. Perfect to the film, but most likely tiresome on a CD.

The cutting of scenes is at times a bit back and forth chronologically, adding to all you need to pay attention to. But it's essential for the flow of the film, which is quite frankly state of the art.

This is an wonderful example of an idea executed to perfection. No compromises, no sidestepping, just raw power presented in a brilliantly a methodically meticulous manner.

It's not a classic but it is a very bold and different film, done right to the letter.

9/10