Dunkirk (2017)
It’s hard surviving on land, air, and sea.
Presentation:
IMAX buddies Hoyte Van Hoytema and Nolan team up for again for another Kodak 2383 experience. The film is told in 3 perspectives, land air and sea, which is perfect for Nolan’s non-linear editing, and he impressively doesn’t make it feel redundant. Though it does as the question, why not just cut them all together? The visuals are stunning and although it's not particularly violent, you can still feel the brutality of war. Hoytema employs great handheld camera work that immerses you into the battlefield. It's hard to make war not look exciting, but Nolan/Hoytema make it look beautiful at the same time. I think this or 1917 is the best looking war film but it’s likely this one.
Conclusion:
On first viewing, I left the film underwhelmed. There's not much direct conflict and instead boringly captures the psychological and internal struggles of soldiers that are often overlooked. You'll appreciate the film more and more with each viewing and its realism. It's a side of war you don't typically see, a retreat, which is not the path you'd normally want to tell a story about but Nolan finds the angle. This is one of the best looking war films and you see different aspects and perspectives that get lost in the noise and spectacle. An intimate war film showcasing gritty vigor of humanity. Although it can get dark, Nolan gives us a reason to still fight for it.
Recommendations
War also only has one take.