1917
Two British Soldiers During the First World War have to go behind enemy lines to deliver an important message that may save thousands of lives.
This film is all about three people:
Director Sam Mendes (who also was the screenwriter with Krysty Wilson-Cairns) should win best director at Oscar time. The wonderful decision of filming in one long shot with a steady-cam is mind bending often. He puts us, the viewers, right in the middle of the nerve bending war..we are in the trenches. We are crawling over bodies with the main characters. We are there thanks to Sam Mendes's decision. I thought often of a film I saw last spring called Hotel Mumbai, where it is often hard to watch but it is real, and shame on me for not watching the bravery.
Cinematographer Roger Deakins. I mean he gives us the widescreen look of war. You never feel you are looking at sets. He is the reason that many times we are covering our eyes!! To be honest..because of Deakins and Mendes we really do not need lines or sound. This film could be done as a beautiful silent film and still work!
George Mackay as Lance Corporal Schofield. He is the the face of the film, it is a big role for him while doing most of his acting without words just with his eyes. We fear when he fears.
If I had to find a negative is the soft ending. It just...ended, no huge moment...no big emotional moment...it just faded out. It was kind of strange, after the feeling of traveling with Corporal Schofield through the battlefield, and then it was done. Maybe this is my fault, maybe I am so used to the big Hollywood finish with fireworks, and a big score (by the way this film winning Golden Globe for best score is wrong, I thought it was just there), people crying or clapping, maybe that is on me for looking for that. Mendes just decided to just let it end, maybe because this is not the end of the war...only thing to do is march on.
1917 is just great big beautiful film on the big screen...it ends with a whimper..but the trip is something. 4 1/2 stars out of 5 for 1917.
From the shadows as usual thanks for your time.
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