Congrats Dunkirk on the eight Oscar nominations!
Dunkirk is one of the few summer movies to have a strong staying power in 2017.
The most impressive thing is it has nothing to with comic-book characters or the world of animation, or even a killer clown, lifted from the pages of a bestselling novel.
Like all films, there are detractors, but for many, it was no surprise that Dunkirk has already appeared on numerous ‘Top Movies of the Year’ lists. The Golden Globes nominated it for Best Drama, Best Director, and Best Original Score. The film will more than likely receive some recognition come Oscar time.
The box office brought in $188 million domestic. It really took off in foreign markets with a nice $337 million.
Dunkirk saw a Digital release on Dec. 12 and the Blu-ray, DVD and 4K Ultra HD (with High Dynamic Range) packs will arrive on Dec. 19.
WAR
The Battle of Dunkirk is a true story, which took place in May/June 1940 during World War II. With hundreds of thousands of British and Allied Troops surrounded. Trapped on the beach in Dunkirk, France, they face an impossible situation of survival, as the enemy closes in.
Director Christopher Nolan tells the story in three sections from land, sea and air. If anyone familiar with his past films – Inception as one big example – Nolan likes to play with the concept of time.
The land segment featuring the likes of Fionn Whitehead, Harry Styles, Aneurin Barnard, James D’Arcy and Kenneth Branagh, as they all deal with events, over the course of a week. Mark Rylance, Tom Glynn-Carney, Barry Keoghan and Cillian Murphy spend time on sea for one day. In the air, in the cockpits of RAF Spitfires are pilots Tom Hardy and Jack Lowden, who only have an hour in the skies.
VERDICT
Blu-Ray and DVD have been around long enough that I’m not going to critique the picture and sound etc. of each. There are plenty of people, who have their own preferences at this stage of the game. Same to those, who much rather watch a movie on their computer or other electronic devices.
Would I buy the film? Yes.
The Dark Knight trilogy made me pay attention to anything Christopher Nolan has done since. He utilizes a mixture of IMAX and shoots on 65mm film for this thriller.
Dunkirk is an under-told story, at least where I am anyway. I was not familiar with the story until the buzz for the movie was starting to build.
There are suspense sequences and plenty of action. Nolan uses realism as much as possible over visual effects. And of course, like most Hollywood movies, tough critics can dock some points, since everything is not 100% historically accurate.
There are suspense sequences and plenty of action. Nolan uses realism as much as possible over visual effects. And of course, like most Hollywood movies, tough critics can dock some points, since everything is not 100% historically accurate.
I’ve also read Dunkirk: The History behind the Major Motion Picture by Joshua Levine. The historian was also a consultant on the film. The book tells a fuller story of the Dunkirk evacuation – codenamed Operation Dynamo, and also offers a behind-the-scenes look at the movie.
(The weather was actually rougher during filming than the actual event for those history nitpickers, as one example.)
(The weather was actually rougher during filming than the actual event for those history nitpickers, as one example.)
If anything, I think this perspective beats any critic.
SPECIAL FEATURES OVERVIEW
Blu-Ray has a separate disc for special features. Standard DVD also has them.
Creation:
- Revisiting the Miracle (7 minutes, 49 seconds)
Nolan calls it one of the ‘greatest stories in human history.’ It expands on the history of Dunkirk and Nolan’s first jump in a movie about true events.
- Dunkerque (5 minutes)
Discussing the decision to finally film in Dunkirk, France and the impression it had on production.
- Expanding the Frame (3 minutes, 36 seconds)
The challenges of shooting in large format like IMAX.
- The In-Camera Approach (5 minutes, 52 seconds)
Nolan's interest in filming practically.
Nolan's interest in filming practically.
Land:
- Rebuilding the Mole (5 minutes, 59 seconds)
The mole plays an integral part of the Dunkirk story.
- The Armor On the Beach (5 minutes, 18 seconds)
Talk of shooting the scenes which involve a multitude of soldiers waiting for rescue. The focus on real young actors, some who never been in a movie before.
- Uniform Approach (5 minutes, 21 seconds)
Working on the wardrobe for a massive army.
Air:
- Taking to the Air (12 minutes, 31 seconds)
The shooting techniques used to catch the aerial sequences on camera.
- Inside the Cockpit (5 minutes, 59 seconds)
How they filmed the pilots.
The shooting techniques used to catch the aerial sequences on camera.
- Inside the Cockpit (5 minutes, 59 seconds)
How they filmed the pilots.
Sea:
- Assembling the Naval Fleet (3 minutes, 50 seconds)
The use of a real fleet of naval ships.
- Launching the Moonstone (5 minutes, 55 seconds)
- Taking to the Sea (13 minutes, 43 seconds)
A look at shooting the water sequences.
- Sinking the Ships (7 minutes, 29 seconds)
What happens when the production went through those shots.
- The Little Ships (5 minutes, 57 seconds)
The discussion of the real Dunkirk ships taking part in the real crossing in 1940 and some involved in the movie.
Conclusion:
- Turing Up the Tension (7 minutes, 23 seconds)
The post-production techniques used to get the viewer’s heart racing.
- Dunkirk Spirit (7 minutes, 55 seconds)
Cast and crew talk about the experience and memories of working on the movie and in Dunkirk, France.
Warner Brothers Home Entertainment
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