Christopher Nolan's "Dunkirk" (July 21, 2017) - Part 3

[BaelaTargaryen]

How many times has Dunkirk taken the top spot for these end of the year lists so far?

Three.

 

[Kane52630]

http://kane52630.tumblr.com/post/168353045749/christopher-nolan-filmography-1998-2017

 

[James.B]

^
Awesome

 

[Kane52630]

 

[Brother Jack]

 

[BestGirl]

I watched this for the first time recently and it's really excellent. All the near-drowning scenes feel like they're out of a nightmare. After even one of those incidents I'd never get out on the water again.

Technically it's brilliant the way it weaves different timelines together seamlessly.

The only part I didn't like was the George subplot. It was sappy, a trifle odd, and just overall didn't feel as though it fit in with the rest of the movie.

 

[kguillou]

Man, I feel I need to watch this again. I watched this once in theaters and I felt so incredibly underwhelmed. I walked out shrugging my shoulders. Technically and visually its superb work but...its just...MISSING something for me. Missing something in character, missing in cinematic structure, missing in...visceral release from the constant tension building. For ME. Apparently this was mind blowing for everyone else but me--I just couldn't get into it, but perhaps it begs another viewing with another state of mind.

 

[redfirebird2008]

Man, I feel I need to watch this again. I watched this once in theaters and I felt so incredibly underwhelmed. I walked out shrugging my shoulders. Technically and visually its superb work but...its just...MISSING something for me. Missing something in character, missing in cinematic structure, missing in...visceral release from the constant tension building. For ME. Apparently this was mind blowing for everyone else but me--I just couldn't get into it, but perhaps it begs another viewing with another state of mind.

You're not alone. There are plenty of other people out there with a similar view. Nobody is wrong either. We all have different experiences with any given movie.

 

[titansupes]

Yeah, I was in that boat. But I'm keen to check it out again soon.

 

[Persona]

Man, I feel I need to watch this again. I watched this once in theaters and I felt so incredibly underwhelmed. I walked out shrugging my shoulders. Technically and visually its superb work but...its just...MISSING something for me. Missing something in character, missing in cinematic structure, missing in...visceral release from the constant tension building.

I think the structure of the film is a brilliant wonder, Nolan and Lee Smith deserve major props from how they made it work, but it's definitely a far cry from the conventionally satisfying three-act structure that most films like this are built on. Which is part of what I love about it, how often do we watch films following the same basic formulae for how they deliver plot and drama before we get a bit tired of it.

There is a lot that is intentionally missing from the film. The exposition is scant (a huge step forward for Nolan as he often has relied on exposition in the past to get his involved ideas across). The characters are there but the film doesn't go out of its way to try to build them up or give them back-story or lots of blatant, sentimental "character moments." They are sort of subtly developed or observed through their interactions, little looks, small details and actions, sketched out wherever appropriately fits in the margins of what the film is trying to do... and what it's trying to do is immerse you in the experience of this pivotal event in time.

I absolutely do feel like the film has a visceral release to the tension. Nothing that you said surprises me, and I understand why you feel that way, but that particular comment... well, you're certainly entitled to it, but for me the climax and release happens when the timelines converge and Hardy swoops in and Zimmer's score reaches that unbelievable level before finally giving out to something calmer.

Anyways, I wrote at length about Dunkirk for Paste and why it feels like a summation of so many things that Nolan has been trying to do over the years...

https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2017/07/christopher-nolans-war-on-time.html

 

[Spider-Fan]

Honestly, I think the structure of the movie made it harder to follow. With all the jumping, it wasn't always clear to me where we were in the timeline, and it threw me off. This is an excellent movie, don't get me wrong. But, I think Nolan has made better.

 

[Kane52630]

Yeah it's no Memento.

 

[Boom]

Dunkirk is one of those movies that is a technical/directorial marvel, but beyond that there's not much there. Definitely a top-five Nolan movie, but I can't see myself rewatching it all that often. Meanwhile, my Dark Knight, Inception, and Memento Blu-Rays have been straight-up abused.

 

[OutOfBoose]

Memento is the most difficult film of Nolan to follow. I don't think Dunkirk is the best Nolan movie, but it's definitely in the better half of his filmography, imo.

 

[kguillou]

Eh. I respectfully disagree, Memento's got nothing on Inception. My head literally hurts every time I watch Inception because there is SO MUCH exposition and the film literally demands you hang on to and pay attention to every word every character is saying in order to follow the story and the concept. I feel like you dont have to work nearly as hard with Memento, which is actually my favorite non Dark Knight Nolan film.

And as unconventional as Memento is, Guy Pierce's compeling character and performance carries you through the film, so you feel like you have an achor. There was no anchor for me with Dunkirk.

 

[MadderMaximus]

Love the movie. Was excited to get my 4k copy in the mail today. Disappointed to open the package and find the case bent in half and shattered.

Now waiting on the replacement. Ho hum.

 

[THE WOLF]

For a movie that moved so fast and was so damn loud, this **** sure was boring

 

[C. Lee]

I got the DVD for Christmas and watched it this afternoon. For me....it was average. Just didn't do much for me.

 

[Schlosser85]

Same. I usually think very highly of Nolan but this just left me cold.

 

[kguillou]

Phew, glad I'm not the only one left cold with this. I love 3/4 of Nolan's movies, my tops being TDKT, Memento, Prestige, Insomnia (SUCH an underrated movie) and Following. Inception....wasn't for me, I'll leave it at that, and I liked Interstellar but wouldn't watch it again. I was so ready for Dunkirk though, a Nolan war movie with a epic Hans Zimmer soundtrack, sign me the f*** up! At least that's what it was being advertised as. But the movie just gave me nothing to chew on and frankly I'm shocked it actually did so well at the BO, I'm surprised American audiences responded well to it because I don't know anyone who I would recommend this movie to.

But that's just me. lol

 

[Mandon Knight]

Its a 'cold' film because of the subject material, that's how I saw it as intended anyhoo.

The spirit is warm, but the palate cold.

 

[Mysteryman]

Its a 'cold' film because of the subject material, that's how I saw it as intended anyhoo.

The spirit is warm, but the palate cold.

It was good, but it had an almost documentary like feeling.
Which some people might not like.

 

[C. Lee]

Its a 'cold' film because of the subject material, that's how I saw it as intended anyhoo.

The spirit is warm, but the palate cold.

Funny....the makers of Weekend at Dunkirk (1964) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058740/?ref_=nv_sr_1 didn't think the subject matter was cold. This was my introduction to the battle of Dunkirk as a kid. It has fascinated me ever since. The Nolan film is a low budget TV movie to me.

 

[James.B]

A new video essay from Vimeo user Titouan Ropert puts footage from Nolan’s movie and the real battle side by side to prove just how amazing “Dunkirk” recreates history.

[YT]EZpVtNCwei4[/YT]

[YT]aKt86KRSBs8[/YT]

 

[Mandon Knight]

I'm glad I got to see it on the 'big screen' but I don't think there is much need for a re-watch on home release. It's impact is subdued and lessened on a smaller screen and although the content is impactual, I don't have a 'burning necessity' to see it again.