For roughly the past twenty years, Sam Mendes has remained one of the most successful filmmakers still working today. Mendes made his cinematic debut with 1999’s American Beauty, which took home five Oscars, including Best Director and Best Picture. His follow-up, 2002’s Road to Perdition, received similar commercial and critical success and was Paul Newman’s last live-action performance. After establishing Neal Street Productions in 2003, Mendes’ 2005 film Jarhead released to mixed reviews and a disappointing box office. His 2008 film Revolutionary Road, which reunited Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, and Kathy Bates, received universal acclaim from critics. 2009’s Away We Go gained similar acclaim but did poorly financially, though he eventually worked on the James Bond franchise. First, he made 2012’s Skyfall, coinciding with Bond’s 50th anniversary, then he made 2015’s Spectre, leading to his next film. Four years later, 2019 saw the release of his WWI film, 1917.
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Synopsis
In April 1917, during WWI, British soldiers Blake (Dean-Charles Chapman) and Schofield (George MacKay) are given a special assignment. General Erinmore (Colin Firth) informs them of a plan by the Germans to lure the 2nd Battalion into a trap. The two must travel behind enemy lines to deliver a message to the 2nd Battalion to call off their attack. Schofield has his reservations about the mission, but Blake is motivated because one of the 2nd Battalion is his brother. As they trek through no man’s land, they get to know each other while keeping a watchful eye for danger. Along the way, they encounter a downed German pilot, a bombed-out village, and a convoy of fellow soldiers. Unfortunately, one of the soldiers is killed, leaving the other to continue the mission with time running out. Will the soldier get the message on time, or will the 2nd Battalion fall?
Review
1917 is not only an achievement in filmmaking, but it also works as an engaging and intense war film. This was made to seem like it was shot in one take, which, for a war film, is not easy. There are moments where you can tell where a cut was probably added, but it’s still nothing short of impressive. This style of filmmaking makes it feel as if you’re right there with the two soldiers along their journey. With cinematographer Roger Deakins at the helm, there are some amazing wide shots and fluid camera movements utilized throughout. Even when things are getting chaotic and action-packed, the camera is pulled back enough to show the full scope. Thomas Newman’s sweeping score goes right along with the cinematography, and the sound design, in general, is fantastic. From a technical perspective, 1917 is one of the best in recent years.
Acting-wise, Dean-Charles Chapman and George MacKay do a great job, giving great performances even when there’s no dialogue. Given that they’re the ones we follow for most of the film, they need to have solid chemistry. Thankfully, they’re able to work off each other well and make for a great duo, even when they’re separated. There are also brief appearances from Colin Firth, Mark Strong, and Benedict Cumberbatch, all of whom shine in their scenes. The story is fairly simplistic, essentially an odyssey film, but sometimes a film doesn’t need a complex story to work. Also, even with its two-hour runtime, the film can be quite slow at times, so don’t expect any non-stop action. This film deserves its place amongst other great war films like Platoon, Saving Private Ryan, Glory, and Apocalypse Now. Overall, 1917 is a technical achievement punctuated with great performances and a solid story.
