Dunkirk (2017) – dir. Christopher Nolan
There are some truly spectacular moments (the opening sequence for one), but I couldn’t help but find Dunkirk to be largely dull.

I felt Nolan wasn’t able to find the right balance in the way he structured the film. The air sequences didn’t have the same level of urgency as those at land or sea.

Harry Styles can act, but the motivation to cast him felt disingenuous and proved to be more of a distraction than anything else.

The ending was far too Hollywood for my liking (the newspaper article – really?), though I’ll give Nolan the benefit of the doubt as he was probably bound by studio constraints.
– Letterboxd Review

Some additional thoughts:

• More ambition! 70mm, yet there are too many close-ups in the boat and jet.
• Despite its length, it felt long and didn’t have the ‘punch’ I was expecting, and that I’m sure Nolan intended.

A Quiet Passion (2017) – dir. Terence Davies
After watching the lush Sunset Song at MIFF last year, and having the privilege of hearing Davies talk in person, this was something that I’ve been eagerly anticipating. Some of the sequences are magnificent, Davies is still an innovative filmmaker and his formal ideas are executed with grace and precision. It’s hard to not to think about Love & Friendship (which was painful to watch), but this is how you get that right, Whit Stillman. Davies has so much to say about the introspective nature of the artistic process and found Dickinson as his muse. Cynthia Nixon is perfect. Ranks second in my favourites of this year behind Personal Shopper.