This war film saw the acting debut of one of the world’s biggest stars, starring alongside Oscar-winning actors.
In 2017, the World War II film Dunkirk hit the screens and made a boom at the box office, with a total of $530 million worldwide. It quickly became the highest-grossing World War II film, right up until director Christopher Nolan stole fans’ attention yet again with the 2023 film Oppenheimer.
Written, directed and co-produced by Nolan, the man behind blockbuster hits such as Inception, Interstellar and The Dark Knight trilogy, the film had high expectations from the outset. Many fans felt the film exceeded these expectations and have since sung its praises on the review site Rotten Tomatoes.
One viewer said: “This is definitely one of the better war movies I’ve ever seen. Even though it was slow at times, it was incredibly suspenseful and intriguing. I definitely recommend it for history fans!”
Raving about Nolan’s directing, another wrote: “Once again, he did not disappoint with this visually breathtaking, stunning masterpiece. Not only does this film succeed in pulling your heartstrings, but also your attention. The vibrating, pulse-pounding sound, the claustrophobic sets, incredible cinematography, and top-of-the-line acting all result in an instant classic.”
The historical thriller depicts the Dunkirk evacuation of World War II, retelling the story from the perspectives of those on the beach, a boat crew, and the RAF fighter pilots in the air. The film highlights the desperation of the soldiers, as well as the bravery of civilians who aided the evacuation of the hundreds of thousands of soldiers trapped in the French town of Dunkirk.
The retelling of the historic 1940 event, one viewer believes, should be “shown in every British classroom”. They went on to write: “While not the nation’s finest hour, it shows the heart of the people and stirs up some pride in being British.
“A true story, with much action and not a lot of dialogue, Christopher Nolan makes you feel like you are in and amongst it. No particular standout actor; each played the part they were meant to. The story was the star, and of course the director who knew exactly what he wanted to do and achieved it.”
What made the film such a standout within the industry was its stellar cast, including Harry Styles, fresh out of One Direction and straight into his solo career. Dunkirk saw the acting debut of Styles, who later went on to star in Olivia Wilde’s Don’t Worry Darling alongside other roles, and fans have praised his first time acting.
He starred alongside Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy and Barry Keoghan, before his big break in the likes of Chernobyl and The Banshees of Inisherin. This, alongside its filmmaking, is what landed the film several accolades, including an impressive eight nominations at the 90th Academy Awards.
One viewer said: “Brilliant film that delivers a powerful portrayal of the evacuation that you can believe in. There’s not an overreliance on special effects – what there is, is perfect & true to the film and the feel of the Dunkirk war zone, which is terrifying in parts. You have to watch it.”
Dunkirk walked away from the Oscars with three awards, including Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Film Editing. It was also awarded the Best Sound award at the BAFTAs that same year.
Film fans yet to see the award-winning war film can watch Dunkirk on Now TV and rent the film on Amazon Prime.