DAY 5 – DUNKIRK

Today I was fortunate enough to put my eyes on one of the better war films that I’ve ever seen. For the letter D, I went with Christopher Nolan’s epic DUNKIRK (2017). Outside of DAS BOOT, I struggle to think of a more claustrophobic war picture. What makes it seem so confined, even when the shot is of an open beach full of soldiers, is that the suspenseful feeling of being trapped is made very evident by the talented hand of the director. The ensemble cast worked beautifully well together to the point that, as the viewer, the more recognizable faces blended into the overall fabric of the film and did not upstage anyone else’s performance. The cinematography and sound design really put you into the scenes in an uncomfortable manner. Lastly, it wouldn’t be a Nolan film if he didn’t play with continuity at least some. By telling the story from several perspectives, I found myself only more immersed in the drama of this historical retreat. Likely, of all the movies in this 2017 UNSEEN MOVIE MARATHON, this is the one that should be seen in a theater and on the big screen…

9/10