BankOfMarquis Director's Series: Christopher Nolan's DUNKIRK

DUNKIRK is the most recent Christopher Nolan film, coming out just over 1 year ago. I named it as my favorite film of 2017, so I was anxious to revisit it to see if it would hold up or if it fades somewhat. I am happy to report that upon a repeat viewing that Dunkirk remains a haunting view of doomed soldiers desperately trying to stay alive whilst a panicked nation tries to rescue them. DUNKIRK, upon it's release, was not a smash hit. Mainly, I think, because it was not a jingoistic "kick butt and take names" heroic war flick. It showed a pretty realistic look at desperation and hopelessness. At least half of this film follows soldiers doing whatever they could to survive, most by doing less than heroic acts - some would call it cowardice - I would call it a prevailing "every man for himself" attitude as the situation becomes more and more dire. This, I feel, is pretty realistic - and not pretty to watch. DUNKIRK is, for the most part, a SILENT film. There is very little dialogue. Nolan, wisely, "shows, doesn't tell" what happens and what the feelings are. This turned off quite a bit of the audience, for me, it drew me in and upon this viewing I was very much drawn in - and affected by - the sound in the film. Silence punctuated by explosions, the constant sound of the waves lapping the beach, the shrieks and groans of injured and/or struggling soldiers. All creating a feeling of constant dread. This picture, at times, is a piece to endure, not enjoy. I looked it up and saw that DUNKIRK won 3 Oscars - one for editing and 2 for Sound - well deserved on all accounts. The other thing that caught me in this viewing is the subtle, non-showy, acting that was taking place. I missed it the first time through - and that is a good thing. But Cillian Murphy, Mark Rylance, Tom Hardy and even Kenneth Branagh (who can go "over the top" with the best of them) were restrained and quiet in their performances, letting the events - and the imagery - flow over all and take center stage. And what imagery there is! Production Designers Nathan Crowley and Gary Fettis, Cinematographer Hoyte Van Hoytema and Director Christopher Nolan were all nominated for Oscars - and all were deserving nominees (and I would have been fine with any of them winning). The breadth, depth and scope of the landscape they paint here is enormous and breathtaking to view and while the Score by Hans Zimmer was not nominated for an Oscar - it should have been. It is haunting and urgent punctuating the images and action with a pulse that tells the audience that time is about up. Which all adds up to a film that I STILL think is the BEST FILM OF 2017. Letter Grade: A 9 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis) P.S.: Stay tuned for my next Director's Series, featuring the films of ALFRED HITCHCOCK. The film for October, 2018 is PSYCHO.