Dunkirk

Nolan reinterpreted the World War II classic in "Dunkirk" by depicting a historical event as a real-time suspense narrative. A week-long evacuation from French coastlines, a day-long operation to rescue survivors of a naval war, and an hour-long air duel are shown concurrently, portraying the struggle as an intensified survival drama.

Each of the three narratives is engrossing, replete with profoundly human situations and heroic individuals. A young, naive trooper (Fionn Whitehead), a simple working-class guy (Mark Rylance) fulfilling his civic duty, and a tired, exhausted warrior (Tom Hardy) each give a unique viewpoint on the battle zone. Notwithstanding the cross-cutting, the audience never loses sight of anyone's tale.

While "Dunkirk" lacks language, Nolan's opinions on war are evident in the film's concluding minutes, when the troops observe that surviving is a success in and of itself. Unlike many war movies, "Dunkirk" does not depend on a pivotal inspiring moment or unassailable hero. Rather than that, it is a compilation of heroic acts by a whole community. "Dunkirk" is a deliberate reinvention of a well-known genre and remains one of the best war pictures ever created.

Year of Release: 2017

Stars: Fionn Whitehead, Barry Keoghan

IMDB: 7.8