With “Dunkirk” Christopher Nolan created one of the most extraordinary and at the same time most exciting war films of recent years – for which we give the full 5 stars. The highlight is currently available on both Netflix and Prime Video.
Even if “Tenet” was not well received by all viewers, the new film by Christopher Nolan came in first place in various lists of the best films of 2020. But almost everyone should agree on one thing: the inversion thriller is an extraordinary, original, and refreshing cinema experience like never before. Something that was also said of “Dunkirk” a few years earlier.
With a running time of just over 100 minutes, the three-time Oscar-winning World War II drama is unusually short for a Nolan film, but that doesn’t detract from the film’s genius. Anyone who has missed “Dunkirk” so far can currently watch the war film on both Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. We can only recommend that you invest an hour and a half. Worth it.
That’s what “Dunkirk” is about
May 1940: The residents of the French port city of Dunkirk and the 400,000 soldiers stationed there face their deaths as they are surrounded by the Nazis in the wake of World War II. Because with the enemies on one side and the water on the other, their chances of survival decrease by the minute – until Britain goes on an unprecedented rescue mission.
While the trapped soldiers (including Fionn Whitehead and Harry Styles) are fighting for their lives on the ground, Spitfire pilots (including Tom Hardy) provide air support. At the same time, however, a large number of brave civilians, led by Commander Bolton (Kenneth Branagh), set off in small boats to rush to the aid of their countrymen. But time is pressing…
5 Stars: A great cinematic experience in every sense
The thrillingly staged war film, set to Hans Zimmer’s rousing music and shot in the impressive IMAX or 65mm format, lives not least from its unusual structure in three-time levels.
Because in the various intersecting perspectives – ground forces (one week), overseas travel (one day), air support (one hour) – different periods of time are covered. A masterful trick that makes the tension in “Dunkirk” almost unbearable until the end. The conclusion of our 5-star review is, therefore:
“Extraordinary, gripping, and incredibly intense – “Dunkirk” is a cinematic movement painting, a great cinematic experience in every sense with an unmistakable Nolan touch!”
