1917 (Film Review)

The First World War, from the first-person point of view. Let me just say, this film makes you feel like you lived it. It is tradgedy and triumph all in one. I really enjoyed it, and all of the performances, especially by the young up-and-coming stars of the film. 1917 (2019) Starring: George McKay, Dean-Charles Chapman Feat.: Colin Firth, Benedict Cumberbatch “Time is the Enemy” the poster says, and this film 1917 definitely feels like you are sucked into a set timeline. I also, myself thought my rental would run out in 2 hrs, and the film is 1:58 so I too had a set time to watch it, with only one or two quick breaks, which added to the tight moving momentum of the film. War films, for me are hard to watch because I wonder why these young people end up in war. I’m a hippie, it’s in my nature. But I found the two leads extremely endearing, because they are just young men, barely past their teens, who have enlisted in the British Army for the ‘Great War’ or WWI mainly because that was what you did for your country, without question. I did want to see this film because I heard murmurs that cinematically it was brilliant. And I think it was. The rumor was that they shot the film all in one take. I did not think it was possible, but I wanted to see for myself. It actually isn’t shot in one take, but it is filmed in a manner where there are some very long takes, that are seamlessly put together. If you aren’t paying close attention, you’ll miss it. I, however, knew to look for the cuts, and I could barely tell when they happened. From the opening, when the two soldiers are given orders by the General (Colin Firth) that they need to cross the enemy lines to get a message to another British company to stop an attack, to about when they make it to a muddy subtrench in the middle of an open field (scary!) I only counted like 2 takes, the second being when the soldier Schofield jumps into the trench. I could tell that it was done with a handheld camera, with the cameraperson following the two young actors. When the soldiers change direction, or point of view, the camera swivels around, almost like the audience is the third soldier with these guys. You feel like you are on the mission, too. Boy, does that make your heart pump. The mud, grime, barbed wire, and rotting dead soldiers are all around, and I felt like I had to watch my surroundings too. The mission starts with Lance Corporal Blake (Chapman) as the primary lead, as he is asked first to meet the General, and bring a buddy. Blake picks Lance Corporal Schofield (McKay). Neither realize the importance of the mission, right away , they thought it was a menial task. Instead they learn that if they do not get this message to the other company, the British will attack and will fall right into a trap set up by the Germans. Schofield begrudgingly comes along, and Blake weakly offers for Shofield to go back, but they already made it across a battlefield, and an underground mine which nearly killed them… So, its really too late to turn back. It is set in France, but the provincial farmland and lovely city has been destroyed by Germans who have ruined everything in their wake. The story shifts to Schofield because (SPOILER) Blake is killed by a German in a knife fight. I won’t say the setup, but it is pretty intense. George Mckay plays this young man brilliantly. There are so many terrible things that happen to him, but we watch him steel himself up, and do things that seem superhuman. He also does things that I know I could not do, even in times of war, but he does it for necessity and survival. He loses his pal, he loses his provisions, he loses all comforts, at one point has to ditch his gun, just so he can survive. And he does it! That climax where he realizes there is no way he is going to stop the first wave of his fellow British soldiers if he doesn’t run for it is amazing. He knows he has to get the Colonel ---(played by Benedict Cumberbatch Ugh that guy is in everything, and always is so rude)-- and he can’t make it through the trenches fast enough… so he decides, against orders…. To RUN ON THE BATTLEFIELD parallel while the British begin their advance which goes against his path. It is one of the coolest images i have ever seen, with the bombs, and guns and him weaving through soldiers. He makes it, completed his mission, but Cumberbatch doesnt even say thank you. Ugh how rude. BTW kudos to the actor for doing that take in one long shot, and its awesome that they did most of those scenes as long scenes, because there is little to no chance for messing up. 10++ I

loved it.