Stubs - 1917

1917 (2019) Starring: George MacKay, Dean-Charles Chapman, Mark Strong, Andrew Scott, Richard Madden, Claire Duburcq, Colin Firth, Benedict Cumberbatch Directed by Sam Mendes. Screenplay by Sam Mendes, Krysty Wilson-Cairns Produced by Sam Mendes, Pippa Harris, Jayne-Ann Tenggren, Callum McDougall, Brian Oliver Run Time: 119 minutes United Kingdom, United States War, World War I, Adventure, Drama, Action

I will admit that I'm a bit of a sucker when it comes to films about World War I. Some of the greatest films ever made were about this somewhat forgotten war, including The Big Parade (1925), Wings (1927), and Hell's Angels (1930). When World War II happened, this war fell out of favor with Hollywood. Sam Mendes has brought it back and with a vengeance.

The film tells the story of two British soldiers, Lance Corporal Tom Blake (Dean-Charles Chapman) and Lance Corporal Will Schofield (George MacKay), dispatched with urgent orders to stop a mission that will result in 1600 soldiers being lead into a trap set by retreating Germans. One of the soldiers, Blake, has a brother involved in the mission and that adds to his desperation. With all the phone lines cut by the retreating Germans, the men have less than a day to stop the mission. They have to cross what was once No Man's Land and traverse a scarred landscape with hidden dangers to reach the new front.

The film, 1917, follows Lance Corporal Tom Blake (Dean-Charles Chapman)
and Lance Corporal Will Schofield (George MacKay) as they endeavor to carry out their orders.

The concept of making a film look like it was made in one continuous shot is nothing new; Alfred Hitchcock attempted this with Rope (1948). However, there were limitations he had to overcome with film magazines that Mendes does not have with 1917. While it obviously wasn't shot in one take, the "gimmick" is very impressive; it takes you into the story in a way that coverage, cutaways, and reaction shots couldn't.

But the one-shot is not the only thing that impresses about 1917. The acting at all levels is very good, from the leads, Chapman and MacKay, to the supporting roles of Mark Strong, Colin Firth, and Benedict Cumberbatch to minor roles as well. There is nothing in the acting that seems to hit a false note.

The same is true with the dialogue and the story. It is a fairly simple story but it is the journey, the hardships and the tragedies of war that make it interesting and compelling. There is never any moment when the story drags or there is something unnecessary. It is efficient in that respect and it takes a director like Sam Mendes to pull it all together. His name is in every credit that matters, from writer to producer to director; this is Mendes' movie and he deserves all the credit for the film's success.

The film recently won a couple of Golden Globe Awards, including Best Motion Picture - Drama and Best Director - Motion Picture for Sam Mendes. I am not a big believer in the NBC advertising propaganda that the Globes are a precursor to the Academy Awards, but I think this film will do well during those ceremonies as well. Not only the film and the director but the cinematography, production design and music are all worthy of awards. I think one of the real snubs by the Oscars was the omission of Lee Smith's work as editor.