The score (and the film) are definitely different and not to some people's taste, but I think that's mainly due to pre-programmed expectations for both film and film scores as defined art forms.

I did feel like I was there, if only as an observer. I also cried, especially in the last half. I lived in the U.K. for almost nine years, so maybe that influenced my feelings, but even so, I was both riveted and moved by the cinematography, the direction, and the score!

Having said that, I did 'notice' the score a couple of times, so I guess that shouldn't happen--nothing should take you out of the film right?

Also (before I went to see it) two friends reported that the movie was 'too loud,' others said the acting wasn't good, they couldn't easily hear the actors speaking, and that there wasn't much of a plot. Again though, I think this could have been the result of having certain pre-formed expectations of mainstream movies in general.

On a side note, I saw a YouTube video by Vox called, 'The sound illusion that makes Dunkirk so intense.' It explains something called the Shepard-Rlisset Glissando,' which is what I heard as the reminiscence of the Rolls Royce engines in the English planes. Wow!

For me, the sound design and the film may be avant garde, and maybe I wouldn't want these styles in every film I see, but this one will definitely make it into my permanent collection!