1917 — Home — What’s Cool?

I usually give myself some time after watching a film to let it to process before I review it. 1917 just couldn’t wait. This movie’s wide-release has started the new decade off as strongly as possible. Sam Mendes has created and executed one of the most technically proficient and emotionally provocative masterpieces I have ever seen. This film’s seamless one-shot stylization had me captivated for its entire runtime, and I left feeling a wide array of emotions due to its powerful messaging. Let’s get into why this film is as successful as it is.

As previously stated, this film is a cinematic achievement. From beginning to end, barring the intentional passage of time toward the middle of the film, this really does feel like one continuous sequence. The coordination, camera work, and direction needed to pull this off is absolutely staggering and deserves all of the critical acclaim it will inevitably continue to receive. Richard Deakins’ cinematography is impeccable and adds significantly to an already emotionally compelling screenplay.

The simplicity of the story also helps the format of this film. The two protagonists are given a mission to deliver a message in a certain amount of time, and that’s really all there is to the direct plot of this movie. The depth comes in small (and big) character moments, revealing dialogue, and unspoken visual allusions of the complexity of the characters on screen. Not a line is wasted, and no plot element introduced is irrelevant later on. The performances from the two leads in this film, George MacKay’s specifically, are very well executed, but are certainly carried along by the astounding filmmaking here.

The messaging behind this film speaks volumes, too, and adds another impressive layer to this masterwork. While focusing so much on the details of two soldiers’ stories, this film also brings awareness to the atrocities and desensitization of war in our society through its occasional use of gore and brutality. This film is a proficient war movie which, at the end of the day, actually ends up driving home a poignant anti-war message. A very timely one at that.

1917 was everything I had hoped for and more. The emotional heaviness of a film as intense and at times sad as this one would usually make me avoid wanting a re-watch, but in this case, I wouldn’t mind seeing it again. And again. And again. I’m now glad, from what I’ve seen so far, that this film won Best Motion Picture - Drama at the Golden Globes, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see it take home best picture at the Academy Awards next month (I still need to see Parasite). All in all: Go see this accomplishment of a film. It’s masterful.

Score: 10/10