Review: Dunkirk (2017)

Straight from the get-go, Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk is an assault on your senses. Star names do not matter. This is a film that takes you into a war zone and leaves you stumbling, shaken, terrified and emotional 106 minutes later. We have never experienced sound like this in the cinema before and Hans Zimmer's non-stop, nervewracking score increases the tension. This is cinema how it should be and it's a masterclass in cinematography, sound and direction.
A group of young British soldiers roam the deserted streets of Dunkirk in 1940, when they come under fire from German soldiers. Tommy (Fionn Whitehead, his debut in film - and what a debut) is the only survivor and makes it to the perimeter, the beach where other British and allied soldiers are awaiting evacuation. And then the German bombers come. Nothing will prepare you for that sound. At one point we were so tense, we wanted to be sick. We cannot do this film justice here. As film lovers, when something this special comes along - that makes you feel like this - it's incredible.
As Tommy and other young soldiers (including a very good Harry Styles, another great debut) fight to be evacuated by the Royal Navy, Mark Rylance's Mr Dawson is ready in Weymouth to sail over and help the evacuation. He at least brings a few moments to pause and breathe, although as they set sail it all gets very scary again. When you thought it couldn't get any better, we meet Tom Hardy's ace British Spitfire pilot Farrier and two others. The aerial action scenes are outstanding and your heart will be in your mouth. Once again Hardy is behind a mask but says everything with his eyes. He's flippin' amazing. We're still thinking about his scenes a day on - he's that good.
Just give it all the Oscars now. We'll not see better for years.
5/5 CHEERING CHEERING CHEERING
Watch it for: EVERYTHING. EVERYTHING. IT IS FANTASTIC
Watch out for: Your own body jumping

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