The story is about two British leftenants Scofield and Blake. Orders are given to them by their general to get to another part of the battlefield and into territory. From there, they must send a message to a colonel that they must not advance and attack the Germans, who have planned a fake retreat to attack them. Potentially, 1,600 men could be killed, which includes Blake's younger brother. It's a race to deliver that message before the next day. Journey through no man's land.
It's a very simple concept. That's the best I can say about the film. But like anything involving war, there are plenty of obstacles. You can't talk about this without talking the cinematography. Sam Mendes and Roger Deakins put up a very difficult task to direct parts for the former and the lengthy takes for the latter. There are parts where you can notice the cuts, but the way they transition to those are nice set ups. The idea of it being a race against time, they don't let up on the lengthy shots. It keeps you glued to the screen.
Add in the production design to it and the amount of authenticity to World War I, it goes above and beyond the intentions. That trench style of battle during that era, the explosive traps, the tanks and planes. Just about everything is given a lot of care. You also take the lighting in the cinematography and some of the scenes are suspenseful. Pure suspense on whether the Germans will get these guys. And there is no filler to the story. I don't think the sound is award winning worthy, but still a very strong effort.
Other than one or two scenes, it keeps moving at a decent pace. The acting is solid and doesn't rely on big name actors for the main characters. There's a reason this is being heralded by many. And it's a good tribute to Mendes' grandfather, who legitimately fought in WWI. 1917 is a must see in the theater. The uniqueness and being in a different help and the set up is one of the most interesting films to see this year.
Score: 9 out of 10
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