‘Blitz’ Review: Steve McQueen’s epic World War II drama is a masterpiece

Steve McQueen’s “Blitz” isn’t just a movie, it’s a lot of movie. It’s one of the most powerful cinematic experiences in recent memory. It’s a World War II epic with a breathtaking sense of scale. It’s an intimate family drama about meaningful relationships in crisis. It is a smart recontextualization of a historical era that is too often viewed through a single lens. It’s a Dickensian melodrama with oversized but believable characters. It’s an Irwin Allen-esque disaster film with impeccable visual effects. There are great musical numbers. It’s funny. It will make you cry. I’ve been to entire film festivals with less cinema than Steve McQueen packs into just two hours.

“Blitz,” which had its world premiere at the London Film Festival, tells the story of a family trying to survive Nazi bombings in the United Kingdom.