Thrilling Historical Accuracy: WW2 Expert Praises Christopher Nolan's Epic Dunkirk Dogfights

Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk, released in 2017, received widespread acclaim for its dedication to realism. Now, as Nolan prepares to release his upcoming film Oppenheimer, which delves into the true story of the inventor of the atomic bomb, it seems he is once again aiming to captivate audiences with historical accuracy. Oppenheimer follows in the footsteps of Dunkirk, a powerful portrayal of the British army's heroic evacuation from continental Europe during World War 2. In Dunkirk, Nolan's commitment to realism extended to the film's dogfight sequences, featuring actual Spitfire planes and the talented Tom Hardy as a British flyer. According to Air Force officer Lt. Col. Matt Ziemann, who reviewed the film's dogfights, Dunkirk's reputation as a truthful depiction of the war is well-deserved. Ziemann praised the use of real aircraft and commended Nolan for his attention to realistic flying tactics. Although Ziemann had a minor complaint regarding a specific scene where Hardy's character shoots down a German plane without fuel, he still awarded Dunkirk's dogfights a high rating of 7.5/10 for their realism.

To engage in a dogfight with the engine off puts you at a disadvantage as you lose energy. Each turn you make accelerates your descent, making it challenging to swiftly turn back, shoot at an opponent, and then maneuver back towards safety. However, in theory, it is possible to take down an adversary with the engine off using the available weaponry.

Realism Has Always Been Key For Nolan

Nolan's commitment to practical effects over CGI has allowed him to achieve incredible cinematic feats. In the making of Tenet, for instance, he insisted on crashing an actual 747 into an airport terminal instead of relying on computer-generated imagery. Similarly, for his upcoming biopic Oppenheimer, which delves into the creation of the atomic bomb, Nolan opted for real pyrotechnics. He ventured into the desert to capture what he described as "enormous explosions."

Nolan maintains his dedication to realism even in the creation of fantasy worlds like Batman's, as demonstrated in The Dark Knight when he captured an actual building demolition for the scene portraying the Joker's destruction of a hospital. This exceptional level of commitment sets Nolan's movies apart from other high-budget films that heavily rely on CGI, often resulting in a lack of lasting impact. Dunkirk serves as a prime example of a Nolan film that greatly benefits from the director's unwavering determination to ensure authenticity.