1917 (2020)

One of the most anticipated films this year for me besides the next phase in Marvel and the various DC projects is none other than World War I epic 1917. There are tons of films that take place during every war after and including World War II, but not a lot is out there that I have seen regarding the first World War which was a very nasty war itself, but that is where famed director Sam Mendes (Skyfall) comes in with his latest offering in 1917 which he also wrote. The film follows two British soldiers, Lance Corporal Blake (Dean-Charles Chapman) and Lance Corporal Schofield (George MacKay) as they are tasked with having to deliver a message across enemy lines that is to stop a battalion made up of 1600 soldiers (which includes Blake's brother) from getting slaughtered in a trap that the Germans have setup.  The film also stars Colin Firth (Kingsman: The Secret Service) as General Erinmore, Billy Postlethwaite (Chernobyl) as NCO Harvey, Andrew Scott (Spectre) as Lt. Leslie, Mark Strong (Kingsman: The Golden Circle) as Captain Smith, Benedict Cumberbatch (Black Mass) as Col. MacKenzie, Richard McCabe (Eye In The Sky) as Col. Collins, Daniel Mays (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story) as Sgt. Sanders, Pip Carter (Robin Hood) as Lt. Gordon, and Claire Duburcq as Lauri.

One of the things I loved about this film is that the style of shooting seems like it is one continuous shot throughout the whole entire film. Sam Mendes decided to shoot the film that way so that it looked like you never missed anything. The actors had to spend six months rehearsing the choreography so that when it came time to shoot they would be prepared. I also loved it because it made the camera sort of a character in the film because it was always there. The two actors in the film (Chapman & MacKay) did an absolute amazing job in the film that it made me believe that they were there and to be able to work the way they did with the continuous shot deserves a lot of merit. The director was also able to paint an ugly picture of war with all of the rotting corpses and all of the destruction to remind us that war is not pretty at all and it definitely wasn't during the First World War. The set designer, costume designer , and the cinematographer all deserve a lot of credit as well because we were literally transported to this hell that was war with the destroyed towns, dead corpses, their uniforms/weapons, and we followed along as they did on their journey. Everyone involved in this film should be proud because they created a great film that you definitely need to check out and try and see it on the big screen if you can. That is why I am going to give the film an A- for a final grade because I enjoyed the journey, but Saving Private Ryan is still the best war film of all time.