Between the desolate, flat beaches and the clear, pale skies, Christopher Nolan has found his niche in this summer’s war flick,“Dunkirk”. There have been many war movies in the past few years from "American Sniper"to "Hacksaw Ridge", but none of them truly hit home for me the way “Saving Private Ryan”

did when I first watched it. Spielberg’s “Saving Private Ryan”

blew audiences away with the sheer, brutally honest portrayal of war, ultimately winning five Oscars. Honestly, "Dunkirk" evoked some of the same feelings "Saving Private Ryan"did, and for that reason, I believe Nolan’s film will go down as one of the best war movies in history.

“Saving Private Ryan” always conjured up feelings of helplessness, sacrifice, and living life to the fullest for me. One of the hardest parts for me to watch is the scene in which Private Mellish is stabbed in a brutal fistfight with a German soldier. Little did Mellish know that Corporal Upham was right around the corner, too afraid to save his comrade. Man, every time I watch that scene I want to grab Upham and smack him silly. How could one stand to hear your friend fighting for life and not do anything? I guess the answer to that question can only be answered by those who have seen combat.

Like Spielberg’s masterpiece, Christopher Nolan attempts to portray soldiers’ struggles to stay alive despite the relentless German bombardment of France. Trapped on the coast, the soldiers find themselves being haunted by the bellowing sounds of German bombers and the reality that they may never be rescued. Before I get into the details here is your spoiler alert. Nolan depicts a sense of vulnerability with a tense score throughout the film. One of the final scenes places the audience in the middle of ships rescuing soldiers, and for a moment, it seems as if there is hope, that survival has been attained, but as we know the battle of Dunkirk was anything but optimistic. In a split second a massive, ominous German bomber roars overhead, prepared to deliver the final nail in the coffin for the troops. With drops of fuel left, Farrier, a British pilot played brilliantly by Tom Hardy, swoops in for one last run and downs the behemoth plane. Writing about the scene certainly does not do it justice. Combined with the powerful shots, and intense music, the audience feels their stomach turn as they await the fate of the soldiers. I know my arm fell asleep because I was clenching it so hard. Quite simply, this is a beautiful movie that will be remembered for years to come.

“Saving Private Ryan” broke the barrier for war films with its powerful storytelling and accurate portrayals that had not been seen before by audiences. Christopher Nolan has always had a strong background in storytelling and narratives, yet “Dunkirk”

takes it to the next level. The cast is perfectly selected and they execute their roles flawlessly. The lack of hope and fear is evident on their faces throughout and is really accented by the intensity of the scenes. Remember that opening scene from “Saving Private Ryan”? Remember how you felt watching the young boy check his surroundings for the missing half of his arm? That same feeling is littered throughout “Dunkirk”.

Don’t get me wrong, "Saving Private Ryan”

is one of the best movies of all time, and for good reason; however, in an era where war movies have tried time and time again to put the audience in that same situation as Spielberg did, not many come close. And then there is “Dunkirk”. Nolan has crafted a masterpiece, and in my mind has achieved that same storytelling level as “Saving Private Ryan”. Coupled with the fantastic cinematography, acting, and score, “Dunkirk” is an all around striking and thought-provoking film. Ask yourself, what would you do facing imminent doom with nowhere to go? I guarantee you after seeing this movie Nolan will leave you being thankful it was only a film. Not many war films achieve what “Saving Private Ryan”

did, but “Dunkirk”

comes pretty damn close.