Sunday, January 12, 2020

1917

Movie Name: 1917
Year of Release: 2019
Director: Sam Mendes
Starring: George MacKay, Dean-Charles Chapman, Mark Strong, Colin Firth, Andrew Scott, Benedict Cumberbatch, Richard Madden, John Hollingworth, Adrian Scarborough, Claire Duburcq
Genre: Drama, War
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7
View Trailer

Synopsis and Review:
After the mixed response to his latest James Bond endeavor, "Spectre", director Sam Mendes has gone in a different direction, and retreated to a screenplay of his own authorship (co-written with Krysty Wilson-Cairns). The film follows the story of two British soldiers, Blake and Schofield, who in 1917, at the peak of the first World War, are tasked with delivering a message to a Colonel in the fronts. This message is of paramount importance, since it contains intel in regards to their adversaries and their tactics, which can prevent the death of thousands of soldiers, including Blake's own brother. These two young men set forth on their quest, with constant dangers surrounding them, including traps left behind by the enemy forces. It will take all of their resilience, intelligence and heart to keep them going.
"1917" drinks from the fountain of inspiration of Christopher Nolan's "Dunkirk". On one hand, it's a taut war-centric thriller, with hardly much dialogue, and on the other, it's a film that is certainly a bewildering technical achievement (and much like Nolan's "Dunkirk", it manages to narrate a dramatic storyline without many lines). The film maker and his crew, managed to shoot and edit the entire film as if though everything captured is a continuous take, with the camera being a partner/parallel view to everything that occurs to the lead characters. It's amazingly well done, and Roger Deakins, the cinematographer, once again proves what a cinematic virtuoso he is. It's a film that doesn't offer much in way of character development, since the two leads, and the core of the film, is indeed dominated by a sole purpose (and that's where the suspense/thriller aspect of the film lies). As their mission is met with obstacles, the friendship and bond of these two young men is tested, but not much is ventured in way of providing some humane aspect to these characters, until the very end. It's nonetheless a film possessed of a striking beauty, technically superlative, and well worth being seen. 

1 comments:

KRFlynt said...

What did you think of the camera work? As someone who has a lot of trouble with jarring transitions, shaky movements, and handheld camera work in general, I'd like to know more about the visual experience. I'd love to see it on the big screen, but would prefer to not get queasy or a headache.