Tuesday
Dec132016
Thoughts I Had... The "Dunkirk" Poster
Tuesday, December 13, 2016 at 8:00AM Chris here. If you're one of the lucky souls getting to see Rogue One this weekend in the very few IMAX 70MM projections it will have, you'll also be getting an extended glimpse at Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk. While we can brace ourselves for the inevitable repetitive bickering between the director's fans and detractors, it's at least intriguing to see Nolan stepping into a new genre for the WWII flick. Here's a look at the first poster and some thoughts:
- Different genre, yes, but the stoic "man from behind" shot and the steely font recall just about every cliche Nolan is known for. There is a compelling scope and undercurrent of emotion, though.
- Remember the litany of names attached to the posters for The Dark Knight Rises? This has a strong cast that goes unmentioned: Tom Hardy, Mark Rylance, Cillian Murphy, Kenneth Branagh...
- ... and LOL Harry Styles, never mind.
- At least Nolan will also rescue us from CGI madness: he's purchased and refurbished authentic WWII machines that will be featured (and YIKES, destroyed) in the film instead of added in post-production
- "From the Director of... Interstellar" Our memories aren't so short - Nolan's best The Prestige is always getting sideswiped by the films that made more money, no matter how divisive.
- [insert frustratingly early talk of next year's Oscar race, even though it does look like Nolan is chasing what has evaded him]
Dunkirk opens July 21, 2017! What do you think of a Nolan war epic?
tagged 2017, Christopher Nolan, Dunkirk
2017, Christopher Nolan, Dunkirk
Reader Comments (23)
Ive been intrigued by this story since the breathtaking scene(s) in Atonement. Hopefully this whole movie can live up to those amazing scenes
Imo, Momento is Nolan's best, n Prestige a close 2nd
Can't wait for this! No matter their faults, Nolan films are almost always worth watching
I really like the poster. Yes that man from behind shot is clichéd but in this case it makes sense to me. Seeing the devastation and horror while being completely helpless. Still, I hated, hated hated Interstellar (What´ up with Jessica Chastain and Casey Afflecks´s characters?)
However, I love Memento, Prestige and The Dark Knigh Trilogy, while Inception was more entertaining than clever which is fine.
Also: It´ a summer release, so Academy Members have to use their cells for a change and remember it.
I'm sure it will be dazzling, but the quality of his and Jonathan's story-telling dipped considerably with TDKR and Interstellar. Here's hoping for a comeback.
What I've seen of Nolan, best to worst:
1. Memento (A)
2. The Dark Knight (A)
3. The Prestige (A-)
4. Batman Begins (A-)
5. Inception (B-)
6. Interstellar (C-)
7. The Dark Knight Rises (D+, just a mess.)
Christopher Nolan's movies are movies I make sure I watch on the big screen. They do not hold up well on smaller screens. The only movie of his I remember very fondly is Memento ( and sometimes Inception). I'm not a huge fan of his Batman work because I don't particularly enjoy mixing superheroes with seriousness and intensity. I think these movies should always be made with a wink to the audience and he is too self serious.
Am I the only one who liked Interstellar and TDKR? LOL
I cannot wait to see this. This poster is a classic.
Tony T: There's a difference, though, between making a "superhero serious" movie starring a normal superhero and trying to make a normal superhero "regular serious". It's, loosely, the difference between a Captain America: The Winter Soldier and a Dark Knight.
It's being Sold on his so called brand with Harry Styles,no thanks,War films are something I struggle to connect with,I need me some Keira Knightley and letters on a beach.
Yea. Memento best for sure
I find the history of WWII very interesting so I'm basically in the tank for this even without Nolan.
But, Joe Wright's "Atonement" stands out for it's depiction of Dunkirk. He basically conveyed all of the chaos in the most personal and poetic way. That beach sequence enthralls me and breaks my heart every time.
Will Nolan be poetic? Doubtful.
My problem with Nolan is his lack of coherent scripts masked by huge action sequences.
However with that cast and such dramatic subject matter I'm still looking forward to this.
If "the Prestige" is always getting sideswiped, then people basically have forgotten the excellent "Insomnia"...
Best of Nolan: The Prestige, Insomnia, Memento, The Dark Night, Batman Begins (not necessarily in that order).
I have a very soft spot for the Dunkirk episode, makes me feel all "We will fight on the beaches..."
And I don't pay much attention to posters but this I like. The silhouette in the background is so menacing and tragic.
Question: Do we need more superhero films or more WWII films?
Oh! the boredom
I'll play.
Among My Favorites:
1. Inception
2. Memento
3. The Dark Knight
Very Rewatchable:
4. Batman Begins
Strong, if Not Top Tier:
5. Following
Mixed Bag:
6. The Dark Knight Rises
Messes:
7. The Prestige
8. Interstellar
9. Insomnia
The image is stunning- Nolan needs to find a good editor for his movies- "Interstellar" was the movie that would not end- but I love " Inception"
This looks like Christopher Nolan's 'Pearl Harbor'. No thanks.
I'm a Christopher Nolan fanboy. So there. Anyway, I agree with LadyEdith and MJ -- Joe Wright's Dunkirk beach scene in Atonement certainly is the benchmark from which Nolan's film will be compared to. Personally I consider that scene the greatest WWII scene ever filmed, along with Spielberg's Normandy invasion opening in Saving Private Ryan. So haunting, poetic and sublime -- and what brilliant camera tracking Wright used.
@brooksboy: I'm with you. Interstellar ranks along with the great contemporary science fiction films, imho.
That first original teaser from earlier this year was pretty thrilling as well IIRC.
If Nolan can honestly pull this off... on such a large scale but with an isolated setting, with this impressive (exclusively male) cast telling this very British story of the early part of WW2... and it becomes a fat hit... I think they'll have to start engraving that Best Director Oscar for next year. All the elements are there for it to hit the sweet spot.
That said, every time he's been given a chance lately not to play into all his worst directorial habits, he's given in completely and made his films overstay their welcome. Or they crumble under their own weight before the third act.
I've liked his films less and less but I'm kinda rooting for this one and it'll be a nice history lesson for Americans to boot. Not many people outside WW2-dieheads know what happened in Dunkirk or why it became such mythos and a source of bitter-sweetness in the UK for decades after.
My first thought was: This looks like a Transformers movie!