You’re stuck in the netherworld between life and death. With just a flask of water and a few cans of food at your disposal, you clutch the 8.8 pounds of your future—ready to fire it at all times. Everything you see, hear, and smell is suddenly converging. Mustard gas in the trenches. A beautiful farm, surrounded by dismantled landscapes. A crumpled chapel, falling into flames. The ominous sounds of a foreign tongue, echoing in the distance. Dust shimmering in the air—in your nose, in your eyes. Whispers of your family. The heartbeat of your wife. And suddenly, a bullet blasts into the wall behind you. Gunfire rains upon you. 1917.
But however imposing and in-your-face 1917’s setting remains, it is a character-driven film. It’s not about World War 1, the setting, or war in general as much as it is about the two cogs churning the story—Lance Cpl. Blake (Dean-Charles Chapman) and Lance Cpl. Schofield (George MacKay)—who were as brilliant as the technical aspects (from the cinematography to the sound mixing). It is the agony and fear and reluctance and impulses that follow them. You see it in their facial expressions, their dialogue, how they walk/crawl/run through the land, how they gaze upon the horizon with despair—as they lurk behind enemy lines to deliver a message that would save 1,600 troops from marching right into a German trap.
But the defining trait of 1917 is that it appears to be one continuous shot, like Birdman. The special effects and camera angles used to maintain this illusion are effective. You surrender your attention and follow the messengers from the first frame to the last, without a single break. Every second keeps you on your feet. You are vulnerable, scared, in awe, and, ultimately, rewarded. And when the credits roll, you find yourself asking questions. What are the limits of human perseverance? And pain? How did mankind reach a point wherein world war became a solution? What was it like? Well, 1917 gives you a pretty great taste.
Rating: 8.5/10
I’m responding well after the fact, but had to compliment you on your review.
This was one of my favourite films of that year and I was lucky enough to be there at the World/Royal premiere in London Dec 4 2019. Amazing.
LikeLike
Thank you so much, Richard! And I love that you got to see the premiere. Sounds like an incredible memory. Cheers!
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure, Luke! Yes, it really was an incredible memory. Cheers and keep up the reviews
LikeLike
Likewise! 🤠
LikeLiked by 1 person
Also, that’s so impressive that you review a film every day. No way I could do that ha.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! It’s been my plan for the past year to travel through the history of film from the first days of silent cinema right on through to modern film so it’s going to be years in the making… here’s hoping I can make it!
LikeLike
You can do it! Just curious: What are your fav silent films? I’ve seen City Lights, Modern Times, and a couple other Charlie Chaplin films but otherwise am very inexperienced when it comes to pre-40’s films.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I started January 1st, and so far so good.
A few of my favourite silent films are:
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) A German expressionist masterpiece with Conrad Veidt (of later Casablanca fame)
Flesh and the Devil (1926) with the divine Greta Garbo.
The Wind (1928) with mesmerising Lillian Gish.
Pandora’s Box (1929) with incredible Louise Brooks
and many more that will appear on my site as time goes by….
Ps: thanks for asking.
LikeLike
I gotta check them out, then! Looking them up. Thanks so much for all of the helpful info. It means a lot. Going to try to watch The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari this week!
LikeLike
Please do. They really are worth a watch and I’ll be interested to know what you think.
I love film and the cinema and any chance I can get to watch to share or discuss is all great to me!
LikeLike
Will indeed let you know what I think. I love film and cinema and discussing as well! Especially the works that are in the “Favorites” section on my menu haha. Thanks again!
LikeLike
https://lukeatkins.com/2020/03/28/the-americans-2013-2018/
LikeLike
Thanks for the link. I’ll look into the show.
LikeLike
Cheers!
LikeLiked by 1 person
^I could talk about this show all day. 😂
LikeLike
Oh and The Great Dictator also (obviously not a silent film but one of my favorites from the early days of film due to the speech at the end).
LikeLiked by 1 person
LikeLiked by 1 person
ur literary elements r cute
LikeLike
need to see dis
LikeLike
And lmk what you think if you see it!
LikeLike
Haha thanks!
LikeLike
I really wanted to watch this movie when it came out but never got the chance and eventually forgot about it. Thanks for reminding me.
LikeLike
No problem! Hope you get a chance. One of the better war films ever made, in my opinion.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s good to know.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excited to c it
LikeLike
🤠
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lmk what you think, btw!
LikeLike
Will do<3
LikeLike