Film: 1917

GENRE: Drama, War

RATING: R for violence and some language
RUNTIME: 1 hour and 59 minutes

STARRING: George MacKay (Captain Fantastic, Peter Pan)

Dean-Charles Chapman (Game of Thrones, Blinded by the Light)

DIRECTOR: Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Jarhead, Skyfall)

WRITERS: Mendes (newcomer), Krysty Wilson-Cairns (Penny Dreadful)

PLOT: Two young British soldiers need to deliver a message deep in enemy territory that will keep 1,600 men from walking into a trap.

FULL DISCLOSURE: High expectations from the first trailer on.

STORY STUFF: Loved every minute of it. The two things that make the story work is the clear obstacles of the deadly mission and the time restraint of getting there by the next morning. You are pulled along with these two soldiers as they make the arduous journey to hopefully save the day. Sure, there is a lot of walking, running, creeping and hiding, but there are some intense interactions and quiet, subdued moments as well. I also like that this story is about WWI which is rarely talked about. This film definitely had some elements of Saving Private Ryan and the beach scenes of Dunkirk. Not bad company to be a part of. I was engaged the entire time.

ACTING STUFF: For a couple of lesser known actors, they really wowed me. Kudos to the casting department. MacKay has this clean-cut earnestness that makes you want to root for him. Chapman has a drive that is infectious. Their comradery and emotional moments are well acted.  There are also a number of other big names like Colin Firth, Mark Strong, Andrew Scott and Benedict Cumberbatch in small military commander roles. They add their flavor but it’s all Chapman and MacKay. As it should be.  

ARTISTIC STUFF: I was blown away by the continuous one-shot cinematography. I’ve enjoyed the style before (like in Birdman) but it seemed more impressive this time around. Maybe it was because the changes in location, the terrain and the action pieces. I spent a bunch of time just imagining how the brilliant Roger Deakins (Sicario, Jarhead, Blade Runner 2049) was getting these shots. There’s a scene on slippery mud and a large lake of muddy water that impressed me with how the camera moved. Of course, I also knowingly smile when you can tell a cut has taken place in the dark shadows of a scene. Some were hard to find though. This amazing method of filmmaking helps keep you fully connected to the story and character. The movie is worth it for just the cinematography alone. (Check out this link to see how the film was shot AFTER you see the film to avoid spoilers.)

VERDICT: Five stars out of five

SEE IT IF: You want to be pulled into a gripping story of bravery

UPCOMING REVIEWS: Bad Boys for Life