In WWI, two British soldiers are ordered to cross the German frontlines to deliver a message to halt an upcoming attack and save 1600 soldiers.
DRAMA/WAR
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1917 (2019)Directed by Sam Mendes
Written by Sam Mendes and Krysty Wilson-Cairns Starring George MacKay, Dean Charles Chapman, Colin Firth, Andrew Scott, Mark Strong, Benedict Cumberbatch, Richard Madden Oscar Wins - Best Cinematography, Best Visual Effects, Best Sound Mixing Oscar Nominations - Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Makeup, Best Production Design, Best Original Score (Thomas Newman), Best Sound Editing |
Of all the wars we’ve been involved in, it’s pretty safe to say that WWI is the least covered in the media. Not exactly for any wrong reason either. America didn’t get involved until the last year or so of it, of which our efforts were minimal at best. And, to be blunt, the fighting wasn’t that exciting. Men would stay in trenches for what seemed like forever; occasionally popping out to run through No Man’s Land, attempt to take the opposing trench, and then retreat back to theirs. So, not the most cinematically rich type of warfare to put to film. But, then I was hearing about this movie called 1917. One that was getting an insane amount or praise for its storytelling and technical feats. So, naturally, I decided to give it a chance and check it out.
Starting on a technical note, this is a brilliant movie. Simply put, at least. To go into more detail, the camerawork alone is beyond amazing. Director Sam Mendes made the decision to film this to where the film is one long, continuous take. No cuts or anything. It sounds like something ready for failure, bit instead turns out to be a brilliant move. Everything from the action scenes to the smaller moments are so expertly done and are only enhanced by the filming style. There’s also the score. This is one of the best scored war films I’ve had the pleasure to watch. The scene alone where our main character runs across No Man’s Land to get the letter delivered is exhilarating thanks in large part to the brilliant score. Which brings me to the storytelling aspect. Again, Mendes makes WWI work as a setting thanks to a simple, yet effective, story of a time critical mission to get a very important letter delivered. I’m a pretty big fan of war films. 1917 is, without a doubt to me, one of the best ones I’ve seen in a while. This is a movie which not only works on a storytelling level, but also on a technical one as well. Sam Mendes does an excellent job of telling a simple story while also showing the effects WWI had on the brave soldiers who during it. Considering, very few, if any, are still around from this time, it’s good to have something that honors them. |
1917 is a revolutionary film that will no doubt go down in history as one of the most ambitious, intense, and cinematically brilliant war movies ever made. The film is shot and edited to resemble one continuous take that's filmed in real time, something that's only been done a handful of times and never this seamlessly. Sam Mendes has truly achieved something special with this drama that drops audiences deep into the heart of no man's land at the height of World War I, where the British and the German forces were neck and neck, and the French countryside was decimated.
George MacKay and Dean Charles Chapman are Lance Corporals Schofield and Blake, two soldiers who are ordered to deliver a message to the German frontlines. The British soldiers are about to walk into a trap, where 1600 soldiers will be massacred. If Schofield and Blake don't deliver the message, they'll all die, including Blake's brother (Madden). What follows is an intense, beautifully filmed journey through the battlefield of World War I. The performances are superb, the story is simple but highly effective, and Thomas Newman's haunting score is a perfect soundtrack to one of the most devastating events in world history. 1917 was making waves even before its wide release in the United States, but now that it's out and I've gotten to see it, I can say without a doubt that this is the film to beat at the Oscars this year. It's an unforgettable war drama that'll stay with me forever. The way it's filmed will absolutely be imitated constantly over the next few years but never duplicated. If you get a chance, go experience this masterpiece in a theater, the way it was meant to be seen. |