Starring: Fionn Whitehead, Aneurin Barnard, Harry Styles, Mark Rylance, Barry Keoghan, Jack Lowden, Tom Hardy, Tom Glynn-Carney, Kenneth Branagh, Damian Bonnard and James Bloor
Running Time: 1 Hour and 46 Minutes
What a completely engrossing movie! One of the most realistic movies I have ever seen!
Dunkirk is the true story of an epic war event that took place between May 26th to June 4th, 1940 in Dunkirk, France during World War II. 400,000 Allied troops (British, French, Polish, Belgian and Netherlands) found themselves trapped by the Nazi's closing in on all sides in the remote area of Dunkirk. They were at the mercy of (mostly British) civilian humanitarians. The call went out to anyone in England who had access to a boat or boating vessel of any kind to answer to the plea for help.
This movie takes place from the land, the sea and the air. There is a lot going on with three different viewpoints taking place. Everyone's life is in peril and they have to think smart and fast!
It's so humbling to see these extremely young soldiers trying desperately to make the right choices and still putting the wounded before themselves for the greater good.
Director Christopher Nolan known for these great movies ("The Dark Knight", " Dark Knight Rises", "Inception", "Interstellar" and "Batman Begins" to name a few) broke out of his regular fictional movies to "Dunkirk", and he did an outstanding job!
The scenery and the photography, especially the. action scenes are second to none! You feel completely immersed into the drama and the vulnerable surroundings! Hans Zimmer does the intense musical score which just helps to keep you on the edge of your seat as well.
The movie is loosely based on three young soldiers, Tommy (Fiona Whitehead), Gibson (Aneurin Barnard) and Alex (Harry Styles)... yes, the Harry Styles from the legendary rockband
"One Direction"! They are the "on land" story which depicts their incredible struggle to just stay alive during this most trying time!
Then you have the "on air" story,which depicts an RAF pilot, Farrier (Tom Hardy) who struggles mightily to save the friendly troops and survive the enemy all the while trying to fly his plane.
Lastly, you have the "on sea" story ever unfolding. This is the story of a civilian father Mr. Dawson (Mark Rylance) and his two sons George (Barry Keoghan) and Collins (Jack Lowden). who set out on a yacht to help save their military comrades.
All in all this is a very dramatic edge of your seat spectacle that will leave you moved beyond your imagination!
The "Battle of Dunkirk"is also know as the "Miracle of Dunkirk"! The movie poster says something to the effect, that if the soldiers couldn't get home, then home came to them!
I think that pretty much sums it all up! They recommend that you see "Dunkirk" in a 70 mm theater.. however, there are no 70 mm theaters in Utah. So, make sure you see this epic story in an IMAX theater!!!
Parents be advised: "Dunkirk" is rated PG-13. This movie is about true, actual war events with violence and extreme action sequences. Fortunately they spare you the real gritty, blood and bodies being ripped apart in this movie. It wasn't as gruesome as what I thought is was going to be. There is some profanity, two F-bombs are dropped and some other mild curse words. I would not recommend this movie for children under fourteen. The entire movie is very intense!
I am giving "Dunkirk", four bags of popcorn.
