Rating of
4/4
An Intense Journey Worth Taking
Chris Kavan - wrote on 01/16/20
The most effective films are ones that make you feel like part of the action. While many films offer a sense of escape and fantasy, others take the opposite approach and portray a brutal reality. 1917 is a war film unlike any other - one that puts you alongside the action thanks to the truly remarkable editing that makes the entire film feel like one, continuous shot. It's one of the most intense experiences I've had in theaters and well worth all the accolades it has achieved.
The plot of 1917 is rather simple. Lance Corporal Blake (Dean-Charles Chapman) and his chose partner Lance Corporal Schofield (George MacKay) are taken to General Erinmore (Colin Firth) and given a mission: deliver a message to Colonel MacKenzie (Benedict Cumberbatch), head of the 2nd Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment to cancel his planned attack as the entire group, including Blake's brother, Lieutenant Joseph Blake (Richard Madden) are falling into a trap that will likely result in the death of most of the 1600 men. The two have a little over a day to make the trek, which includes a risky trek through the so-called No Man's Land, as well as the town of Écoust-Saint-Mein.
Sam Mendes made an excellent choice of casting as George MacKay is superb as the kind of every-man soldier - who finds himself reluctantly part of such an important mission but soon realizes the gravity of the situation, especially after a close call in the abandoned but still trap-laden German trenches. While many other of the big names mentioned above (which also includes Mark Strong, Andrew Scott and Anson Boon) have very limited parts to play - it's very interesting to see how each man, both those in charge and those part of the general units, react to the war. In a scene close to the end as MacKay is desperately trying to locate Colonel MacKenzie, he comes across a crying lieutenant - one who seems completely out of his element, cracking under the pressure - and that is as powerful as anything else in the film.
World War I is often overlooked for the more "popular" if you will WWII. But make no mistake, the trench warfare of this era was just as brutal and crushing as any of the battles put up on the big screen. The film doesn't shy away from showing the horrors of this war: bodies are strewn all about, many in various states of decay, and many shots serve as a reminder of just how many men lost their lives for a few miles of ground. But so much credit for the power and impact of the film has to be given to Cinematography Roger Deakins and Editor Lee Smith who have truly crafted something special. While it's obviously impossible to shoot such a film in one continuous shot, you would have a hard time telling the difference thanks to the amazing work done on the film. Combined with an excellent score from Thomas Newman and the film really does hit all the right notes.
My dad is the one who likes war movies in the family but this, along with Dunkirk back in 2017, prove that this genre remains as important and visceral as it has in years past. If you want to experience WWI as it was, 1917 takes you about as close as you would ever want to get.
