Why 'Dunkirk' Will Be Nolan's Best
Christopher Nolan is one of the greatest directors of our generation, creating beautiful films that are always fantastic. He is brilliant in every genre, whether it's arguably the best superhero trilogy ever in The Dark Knight, a mind-bending blockbuster like Inception, or an intense thriller like Memento.
Nolan's latest film, the war epic Dunkirk, is set to be another excellent addition to his genre-bending résumé. Here are five reasons why it'll be his best work yet.
1. It's Nolan's First Film Based On Real-Life Events
Nolan has given us some seriously wacky cinematic moments — from the off-the-wall ending to Interstellar, to literally all of Inception — so seeing him tackle a story that actually happened should make for compelling viewing. It seems that Dunkirk is a project a director would start with early in his career, before tackling something like Inception later on — but Nolan has never been one for sticking to the director's playbook.
Dunkirk's story centers around Operation Dynamo, an infamous evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force and other Allied troops from the French seaport of Dunkirk. This tale has all the dramatic elements to be one of the greatest war stories ever told on the silver screen.
2. Nolan Is Opting For Authenticity Over CGI
Film fans often praise the use of practical, authentic effects over CGI in blockbuster movies. Recent films like Mad Max: Fury Road and Star Wars: The Force Awakens perfectly balanced practical effects with fantastic CGI, and it looks like Nolan is aiming for that same sense of harmony with Dunkirk. The filmmaker opted to use real naval destroyers instead of CGI for sea battle sequences in this film. As you could imagine, it would've been easier to use CGI, but it wouldn't have looked nearly as convincing.
Not only that, but according to Indie Revolver, Nolan didn't spare any expense in making this epic period drama. He apparently purchased a World War II plane, valued at $5 million, only to crash the antique in the name of compelling, authentic cinema. It's good to see Nolan is going the extra mile with this movie — the final product is always much more enthralling when the authenticity is there.
3. The Cast Has Oscars Glory Written All Over It
Nolan is known for casting wonderful actors in his movies, and Dunkirk is no exception. Pulling out all the stops with this all-star cast, we're gifted with two Oscar nominees in Tom Hardy and Kenneth Branagh, and an Oscar winner in Mark Rylance. The rest of the cast includes Cillian Murphy and One Direction's Harry Styles, whose acting debut is causing quite the stir.
The fantastic crew also expands past the actors to see Nolan reunite with his longtime editor Lee Smith, director of photography Hoyte Van Hoytema, and production designer Nathan Crowley. And the music is provided, of course, by the legendary Hans Zimmer.
4. It Looks Like His Most Beautiful Film To Date
One of the hallmarks of a great Christopher Nolan movie is breathtaking visuals — each frame is always stunning. Guaranteed you'll constantly get goosebumps while watching the movie's trailer; all the shots look so stark and gorgeous. Pick out any frame from the above trailer, and it's sure to be meticulous and grand.
We're stoked to finally see this movie in all its glory when it releases July 21.