Dunkirk - The Spirit is Alive & Kicking!

Chrisy. Chrisy. What have you done. Your new venture is nothing but rubbish in its uncontaminated and contaminated form. IT is so disgusting and odious that it reeks immense and deep foul odor that is sure to reach the habitable exo-planets that are millions and billions of light years away from us. Such is the level of appalling and God-awful creation that you have given us in the name of a movie. Sheer garbage! And sickeningly decomposed beyond recognizable recognition!!

I would love to say all these things in my review for your present historical work of art. But, you won't let me do it as you have assiduously, meticulously and painstakingly have achieved a name and reputation as strong as a Q-Carbon in the film-making industry. You wouldn't even let your own guard down for a moment as you have great expectations from yourself thus significantly increasing the bar day-by-day with every film that it is not only difficult but also virtually impossible for any pole-vaulter to out-bar you. The latest in the addition to your list of impressive credentials is DUNKIRK.

As there are many paid reviewers out there in the world and to cull out who's who is a tiresome process, I always take their reviews with a pinch of salt. I frame and form my objective opinions grounded on facts after watching the movies rather than getting heavily swayed by the paid or genuine critics but use their opinions as a yardstick as to whether to watch them in the theatres or not. But, when films from the cerebral prowess of Nolan hits the screen, there's no question as to where one should indulge themselves in to get a good feel and ultimate experience of cinematic brilliance.

Even before the film was screened in India, positive reviews were so effusive that it was flooding in like the rushing waters breaking down a dam. Still, it is their opinion and not mine. Unless I saw it and satisfied to my heart's content that Dunkirk really struck a chord in me, I wouldn't be true to myself but merely parroting what others had opined. And Yes. Finally, I got to see Dunkirk yesterday.

Does Dunkirk live up to the expectations of Nolan's predecessors?

As this was a classic case of actual history deeply rooted with facts, the story is pretty much simple and as open as an uncultivated land. So, there was only room for Nolan to fiddle around and tamper with the screenplay in order to make it more engaging and compelling.  Oh Boy! He really made it a room to manoeuvre to strike gold big time. Dunkirk is the piece d resistance of Nolan's works. It is his crowning accomplishment till date. Period.

What makes Dunkirk so special?

For starters, the movie exactly knows what is irrelevant and out of scope to make it the capstone of Nolan's achievements. What I mean by "irrelevant" and "out of scope" is that Nolan precisely knew that he was dealing with actual and factual data that cannot be manipulated or distorted as Dunkirk is an integral aspect of British life which eventually resulted in the coinage of the term "Dunkirk Spirit". He would have been severely at the receiving end of the historians and general public if there were any concoction of his imagination infused into the valiant true life story that happened during WW 2.

So, there was no wasting time or beating around the bush as to what transpired before the events of Dunkirk or what happened after the evacuation. This movie is only about the bravery and courageous acts and feats of people who risked their lives to safely take ashore the thousands of stranded soldiers in a life-threatening situation. ONLY that particular life and death situation. Nothing else.

Nolan was crystal-clear about the extent and what he was going to show which made Dunkirk to be extremely gripping especially the second half where time simply flew away with the action-packed sequences devoid of blood or gore. However, you can still vicariously feel the pain and mental torment of the soldiers considering the gravity of the situation. Even the shell-shocked soldier and Bolton. That was a whistle-blowing moment when the commander chooses to stay behind. And just when you are thinking that Tom Hardy is more a fifth wheel who plays video-game-like-shoot in the air, he is given a vital role which gives a totally new definition to the phrase 'out of the blue'. It is indeed a 'Dude..That was totally unexpected' scene.  

Dunkirk is shown from 3 standpoints - Okay, not stand but land point, sea point and air point! with their respective time frames seamlessly intertwined with each other to give us a finished product of exemplary quality and craftsmanship. Be it the breath-taking cinematography like the aerial shots from the airplane's perspective or the soldiers packed like sardines or their exploits in the water - It is so graceful and beautiful to the eyes that it doesn't make the audience retch or squirm in disgust but at the same time, it makes you to exceedingly empath with the characters as well. This is a delicate balance which is extremely difficult to pull it off in a war film. Nolan does it superbly here with such finesse and firm aplombness.

Adding to the movie's aura is the crisp and taut screenplay which is mainly made possible as Nolan had his ideation to the letter 't'. Anything less would have diminished the viewers' involvement factor and anything more would have made the palpable tension and edginess to be dissolved and evaporated into thin air, pun intended. It was as perfect as a freshly baked choco cookie taken out of the oven with the right crunchiness.

Also, Hans Zimmer's simmering background score mind-blowingly elevated the movie to a whole new level. You could actually feel the build up of tension and nervousness oozing out through the movie. Every frame. Every scene. Was Rollicking. Intense. Powerful. Stirring. The overstrung crests and troughs of the beats was a major thrust to viewing the entire movie as a whole. Just like the swells in the film. 

Their fantastic combo reminded me of our Kollywood's sensational duo of Shankar-AR Rahman &Mani Ratnam-AR Rahman in the current generation. Had it not been for the BGM, Dunkirk would have still been an Oscar-worthy material but its impact would have been drastically impaired. You always need the right person to capture the mood of the scene as it is. Nolan's go-to man exceeds expectations by sustaining the tempo throughout the whole duration.

SO, will Dunkirk get the Oscars?

Maybe not for Best Actor or Best Support Actor. 

Best Movie - Highly Probable though Dunkirk will ride high on the waves of the BAFTA and the Golden Globes.

Best Director. Definitely Yes. 

If Christopher Nolan doesn't get the prestigious Oscars this time, then it means:

a) The golden statuette doesn't deserve Nolan. At ALL.

b) It's high time to take a look at the process of Oscar Jury and revamp it. COMPLETELY.

c) Nolan can start his own Academy Awards!

Did the brainy and astute Nolan 'Oscar Bait' with Dunkirk?

You can read all about it here. Yep. It's another blog of mine which I had written it some time back.

But, IMHO, whether he baited or not is immaterial as he has given us memorable movies as Inception, Memento or The Prestige. Who can forget The Dark Knight Trilogy especially the second installment which is as indelible as the colors of a butterfly.

And now, the nervy, heart-thumping, no-unnecessary-chatter and tour de force Dunkirk.

Christopher Nolan deserves. Very Much. In the Spirit of the letter of the word 'OSCAR'.

There, I end my case.

PS:

You can also explore other reviews at your own paced time like:

a) The Revenant - DiCaprio's ticket to holding the Oscar finally!
b) Captain America:Civil War - A Whipsmart Encounter between the Suit and the Shield
c) Wonder Woman - A Film to Wonder and Ponder for DC!