1917 movie review
Written by Sam Mendes and Krysty Wilson-Cairns
Directed by Sam Mendes
Rating: 🏆 most excellent
Two young British privates are given the task to deliver a message to call off an attack at the front lines. Their 1,600 British troops are about to fall into a German trap. If they fail, it is sure to be a blood bath. So, what’s the catch? To deliver this message they must leave the “safety” of the British trenches, travel across no man’s land, through (hopefully) deserted German trenches, across miles of open countryside, through a German occupied town, and then into the woods to find the British troops. Who would be crazy enough to carry out such suicidal orders? Cue Private Blake (Dean-Charles Chapman). His brother (Richard Madden) is a Lieutenant at the front and his death is imminent should he and Private Schofield (George MacKay) fail.
Wow. Just wow. This movie took my breath away. 1917 is not a movie about the glories of war, it’s a film about the reality of war. If you are squeamish about blood, dead bodies, and trench foot, then this film will be a tough watch. I have a theory about why films about WWI are only recently becoming popular. As arguably the most grotesque war in history, I think we needed a generation desensitized by Game of Thrones-style violence to be able to handle the gore of this war and be able to effectively tell its stories. As a former history teacher, and a forever history buff, I think it’s incredibly important to tell the stories of the lost generation. This generation was so mutilated by war that it necessitated the invention of plastic surgery in an attempt to enable veterans to go in public without their appearance scaring people. So yes, warning, this film is gory. But it is powerful, intense, beautiful, and in my opinion a must-watch.
Let’s start with the sound. Cue Academy Award nominations! Much like Dunkirk, this is a movie that relies heavily on audio to tell the story. From loud, raging battles, to eerie silence, the sound in this film demands your attention. The score by Thomas Newman is hauntingly beautiful and might be one of my favorite scores of all time. In addition to being an auditory dream, this film is a feast for the eyes as well. The scope of the film starts wide with sweeping shots of the idyllic countryside that transition seamlessly to the claustrophobia-inducing shots in the trenches. The stellar production design is enhanced by powerful performances by the entire cast, most notably by George MacKay. In a film with little dialogue, he communicates so much through his actions. I think this film is going to be an Award’s season powerhouse and I highly recommend seeing it in theaters. 1917 will be playing in theaters on Christmas day.
Review written by Zianna Weston
