"Skyfall" director Sam Mendes and "Blade Runner 2049" cinematographer Roger Deakins combine their visions to create a World War I epic that's innovative, engaging and stunning.
"1917" is one of the best movies that takes place during the First World War because everything just works perfectly together.
Blake (Dean-Charles Chapman) and Schofield (George MacKay) are two young British privates who are told to deliver a message through enemy territory that will stop 1,600 men, including Blake's brother (Richard Madden), from walking into a trap. Along the way, they meet higher-ranked officers played by Colin Firth, Mark Strong, Andrew Scott and Benedict Cumberbatch during their gruesome journey.
Similar to "Birdman," "1917" is a movie seen in one continuous shot with seamless editing and angle transitions. So the camera always follows these soldiers throughout their entire adventure. This technique makes viewers feel like they're in the mud-filled craters and packed trenches in No-Man's Land with these men and it leaves a lasting impression on these characters. And as horrible as some moments are, there are equally beautiful moments that will leave audiences in awe of what they're witnessing. By pairing outstanding sound mixing, editing, production and a mesmerizing score from Thomas Newman, surely this experience isn't the same if seen on a TV at home instead of a big screen in theaters.
1917 - Official Trailer [HD]www.youtube.com
But cinematography wasn't the only thing that brought these characters to life. Dean-Charles Chapman does a fantastic job as the determined lance corporal set on his mission to save his brother. However, it's really George MacKay who shines as his friend who was picked to unknowingly accompany Blake on his important task.
The writing has a way of normalizing the horrors of war, making it feel realistically bleak. As one lieutenant tells Blake and Schofield specific instructions on getting through No-Man's Land, he talks about dead horses, barbed wire and rotting corpses like it's an average day. And when Blake tells Schofield a story about a soldier who woke up to a rat chewing on his ear, they find humor in the story when really it has sad undertones for the viewer to realize their unfazed dark sense of humor.
As personable experience in the movie is as real as Mendes' connection to the plot. It's based on a story his grandfather told him when he was young. So call it a pet project, but it also deserves to be called a masterpiece.
"1917" gets 10/10 stars. See it in theaters in select theaters December 25.
Follow Samantha Incorvaia on Twitter at @_SamI520.
