Director
Sam Mendes
(SKYFALL, AMERICAN BEAUTY, ROAD TO PERDITION, JARHEAD)

Starring
Dean-Charles Chapman and George MacKay

What does it take to make a masterpiece in modern cinema? For 1917, the answer to that question is a single and continuous take! This epic war drama has been shot and edited to appear as a single long take from beginning to end whose gripping story, which is based around a “fragment” told to Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes by his grandfather, unfolds in real time.

In spring 1917 during the First World War, two young British privates, Blake and Schofield (Dean-Charles Chapman and George MacKay) are tasked with an unbearably frightening and difficult assignment. They must find a British battalion nestled among hostile enemy territory and deliver a message to the Colonel. If successful, they stand a chance to save 1,600 of their men, one of which is Blake’s older brother, from an ambush planned by the Germans.

Mark my words, for I do not say this lightly at all. 1917 is a ground-breaking feat for this genre of cinema that will make its mark in the history of filmmaking in years to come. Many accolades and major awards will deservedly go to the grandiose and gripping conveyance, scoring and filming of this story. I could write an absolute essay expressing just how blown away and in love I am with the stunning cinematographic work by Roger Deakins (who has been Oscar-nominated fourteen times for his work behind the camera, and finally won in 2018 for BLADE RUNNER 2049). No one will beat him for Best Cinematography in 2020! But what I’d really like to emphasise is just how artistically and seamlessly everything has been so effortlessly captured. So many times while watching 1917, my eyes witnessed a scene that looked so easily filmed yet my brain would acknowledge just how challenging that scene must have been to execute so flawlessly. Incredible!

Other than bowling me over, the outstanding cinematography and music score immediately inject a stark realism into the film that permanently remains. Truly, from the minute these young men leave their troop, 1917 is a part of you. Like our protagonists, we have little idea of what’s coming their way and when it will happen. Without revealing any of the specifics, what they encounter brings them face to face with some of the most unimaginably horrific experiences that only war can bring. My senses were so completely enmeshed by being in the moment, it took me some time to fully appreciate the degree of difficulty and exemplary execution of its classic set-piece sequences. It’s very early into the new year, but at least a small handful of these are guaranteed to remain in my cinema highlights by the years end, and beyond. I also felt much more involved with the characters and their plight in this war film compared to most others, partially due to the narrowed character focus. There are many well-known actors in 1917, most notably Colin Firth, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Mark Strong, albeit each with very brief screen time. It might not sound like it, but even this compliments the film greatly.

I’ll end this review by sharing a secret that until now, only my dear co-writer knows. I initially resisted giving 1917 the perfect rating of 5 stars, purely because it didn’t pack the emotional punch that a 5 star film ordinarily overwhelms me with. But screw that, 1917 is too bloody perfect to give anything less than the perfect score to!

It is a testament to the innovative and inspired vision of Sam Mendes, who sincerely is one of the greatest filmmakers of our time. His latest, 1917 is his finest and is simply unmissable.

5 stars

Viewer Discretion
MA15+ (Strong war themes)

Trailer
1917

Moviedoc thanks Universal Pictures for the invite to the screening of this film.

1917 is released in cinemas throughout Australia from 9th of January, 2020.

Review by Leigh for Moviedoc
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