Christopher Nolan Tackes WWII in 'Dunkirk' Trailer

I don't know about anybody else but this kinda looks like your generic WWII action movie to me. Probably more serious-minded, like with Oscar contention in mind, but where's the story and the characters? Is the whole thing set at the battle of Dunkirk, kind of like Black Hawk Down or something? I don't know- this doesn't seem like a Nolan movie, and I can't help but wonder if he really is trying to get the Academy's attention after their continual overlooking of him for his genre fare.