D U N K I R K  4.0***

       There have been other films about Dunkirk undertaken  but none have come close to the realism, the grittiness and the intensity that 'Dunkirk' bestows upon the audience. The true story of a retreat that was seen as a huge victory !, Yes, you read that right, the retreat at Dunkirk became one of World War II's greatest tales of heroism in the face of adversity.  Churchill asked his countrymen to help with the rescue and  to ensure that at least 30,000 troops made it home...instead that number in came in at over 300,000, and not just British soldiers. French, Belgians and some Dutch It was an epic tale of a historic spectacle that truly required an honest account from a capable experienced director, that being Christopher Nolan.

The battle of Dunkirk was a short one, May 26 to June 4, 1940. Despite its minimal timeframe, it was deadly. WWII Allied soldiers were trapped, surrounded on all sides by the German Army and had to be evacuated from the beaches of Dunkirk.  Desperation runs rampant during war and  Nolan doesn't waste any time  depicting just how desperate a situation it was as men waited to be taken home, not knowing when the enemy would strike next. Nolan's boldest decision in Dunkirk is to not show one German soldier throughout and it really adds to the film's intensity, the fear of the men trapped on the beach.

There are panoramic CGI shots to show the sheer size of the retreating army (400,000) but the script focuses on one soldier fighting on land to survive the day (Fionn Whitehead), one civilian fishing boat captain (Mark Rylance) and one RAF pilot (Tom Hardy) Nolan uses  non-linear storytelling (not chronological) to stunning effect, with three stories, each from the land, sea and air, all focusing on a different time frame, but effectively intersecting throughout.. Lacking of actual dialogue, the sequences instead thrust the audience into a world of visual splendor and build the narrative through the use of sound and peril, the haunting and deafening sounds of diving German Stukas, the ripping roar of the British Spitfire's engine and the sudden silence, building to impending doom. The sound is one of this film's highlight, with Hans Zimmer returning once more to provide yet another stunning score. Now, the cinematography, well what can be said. Hoyte Van Hoytema is the one behind the camera and is brilliant. The imagery is both stark yet beautiful,  gritty yet serene, .. it's utterly dazzling from the opening shot, it draws you in, it takes you to that beach, it places you in the thick of it, and all the while avoiding the sight of the actual enemy in person, they're just lingering, unseen to the naked eye.

Dunkirk joins the list of all-time great war movies and will surely be up for awards next winter. It isn't a typical movie, it isn't even your typical war movie, this is more, much more. This is a film about the prevalence of heroism, the unwavering spirit of Britishness, and how relentless fear can cripple the best of men.  This is a visual masterpiece  that should be experienced in a movie theater, preferably a true I-Max theater.

Dunkirk is rated PG-13 for intense war experiences and some language.  

Clark