British Film Institute
In crafting the forward-momentum thrills of ‘Dunkirk,’ Nolan sought inspiration from two similarly-minded thrillers: Jan de Bont’s 1994 action classic ‘Speed’ and Tony Scott’s 2010 thriller ‘Unstoppable,’ starring Denzel Washington and Chris Pine. In an interview with the British Film Institute, Nolan praised the latter title for its ‘relentless’ pacing, adding it’s a superior example of using ‘the mechanics and uses of suspense to modulate an audience’s response to narrative.’ As for ‘Speed,’ Nolan called it a ‘ticking clock nail-biter’ of the highest order.