1917 (2019) - SPOILER-FREE Review
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Directed by: Sam Mendes
Written by: Sam Mendes, Krysty Wilson-Cairns
Starring: George MacKay, Dean-Charles Chapman, Mark Strong, Andrew Scott, Richard Madden, Claire Duburcq, Colin Firth, Benedict Cumberbatch
Runtime: 119 min
Synopsis: At the height of the First World War, two young British soldiers, Schofield (George MacKay) and Blake (Dean-Charles Chapman) are given a seemingly impossible mission. In a race against time, they must cross enemy territory and deliver a message that will stop a deadly attack on hundreds of soldiers… Blake's own brother among them.
Let me just take a deep breath… Wait, one more… Uff, I have no idea how I survived this IMAX screening of 1917. Usually, I don’t delve deep into technical stuff since most people don’t know or don’t care about these attributes, but it’s impossible not to address Roger Deakins’ cinematography. It’s not the first time a film has been edited to appear as “one shot” (a continuous take), but it never fails to impress me.
Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s Birdman, Silent House starring Elizabeth Olsen, or the famous Rope from the one and only Alfred Hitchcock… all produce the same trick. Even Mr. Robot and The Haunting of Hill House have brought us two phenomenal “one shot” episodes, edited as well with the so-called “stitches,” meaning that the actual cuts are made to look invisible to the viewer, hence giving that feeling that it’s all just one continuous take. Cuts are often applied when a random character is passing in front of the camera; when the latter “pans” (movement similar to a head-turn) over a wall or an object that occupies the whole screen; or when the characters are simply going through a dark area.
Sam Mendes, Roger Deakins, and Lee Smith (editor) all work together to deliver the most immersive war movie (probably) ever. Yes, it has a simple premise, and the main narrative is basic, but the remarkable technical achievement elevates this film so freaking much. Even if you don’t know the slightest thing about filmmaking or how movies are made, it’s impossible to watch this film and not think “something feels different about this one.” This is a movie meant to be watched at the biggest, best screen possible. Watching 1917 at home on a TV or a laptop is not going to work at all.
Throughout the whole runtime, I felt like I was there with Schofield and Blake. It feels like we are a third soldier going with them on a vital mission to save thousands of lives. I believe 1917 is the best “one shot” film to date (I’ve been using the quote signs for a reason, don’t mistake it for an actual one shot movie), with Birdman as a close second. If the latter deals with a lot more dialogue and acting, the former has dozens of nail-biting sequences featuring shootouts, explosions, and a lot of running/walking/swimming through mud, dead corpses, blood, and way too many nasty rats.
I really have no words to describe Roger Deakins’ cinematography. It’s not merely a film, it’s a whole experience. It’s not just another cool technical achievement. It’s the entire foundation of 1917, and the main reason why so many people are rushing to the theater. However, a lot of people are completely ignoring Lee Smith’s work. Don’t forget, this isn’t an actual one shot movie. If it’s been edited to look like one continuous take, and if it actually does appear to be a single take, then the editor should get as much recognition as everyone else. Yes, he doesn’t have to work with thousands of cuts (I counted 14, but I’m sure there’s more), but they still exist, and he has to make sure no one feels them. And he did so perfectly.
My last paragraph concerning the technical aspects has to go to Sam Mendes and Thomas Newman. As the director, Mendes is able to deliver precisely what he envisioned and seamlessly coordinate his actors. Not only has he directed my favorite Bond film (Skyfall), but he also offers one of my favorite war movies of all-time. As for Newman, I just wish that Joker had been released in another year because 1917’s score is fantastic. Hildur Guðnadóttir is likely taking the Oscar for Best Original Score, but if Thomas Newman takes it, I’ll still be delighted.
A lot of comparisons are being made with Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk. They’re similar films regarding the fact that their main goal is to provide the most immersive war experience. Story and character-wise, both movies don’t really develop that much. Nolan’s film is loved by most critics and audiences all around the world, but one common complaint about it is the lack of character building. I didn’t mind that at all because the movie never actually tried to make their characters important. They were just soldiers caught in the worst of situations, similar to 1917. However, I do think the latter does a better job of making us care for the protagonists.
George MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapman’s characters have small arcs, but they exist. In the beginning, Blake is the emotional-driven character, while Schofield seems to be the rational one. We, as the audience, care about the mission first, but as time goes by, we learn about their personal traits and motivations. By the end of the film, I was crying. Both play off of each other really well, but it’s their dialogue that impresses me the most. What seems to be just a random talk while strolling through an open field of grass, it truly isn’t. If it’s not meaningful at the time, it’s going to be. The acting is more physical than anything, and both deliver outstanding performances.
I would say I love 1917 as much as I love Dunkirk. I might be tempted to choose the former due to the “recency effect,” but there’s one small aspect that negatively affects both. Their replay value is not as high as other films since their technical achievements don’t work as well on a regular TV in the comfort of our own home. You will never feel or understand that “immersive experience” that everyone talks about. You won’t know what made people to be blown away. You won’t love it as much as everyone else. So, please, do NOT miss 1917 in theaters!
Final Thoughts
Sam Mendes, Roger Deakins, and Lee Smith. Director, director of photography, editor. Three key filmmaking roles in the creation of one of the best WWI movies of all-time. Edited to look like one continuous shot, 1917 is a mind-blowing technical achievement, elevated by Deakins’ always jaw-dropping cinematography, Thomas Newman’s emotionally powerful score, Mendes' impeccable directing, and Smith’s seamless editing. George MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapman deliver outstanding (physical) performances, but it’s the astonishing filmmaking that steals the spotlight. Production design, costume design, sound, you name it. Everything is absolutely perfect. It’s meant to be seen on the biggest screen near you since this is an incredibly immersive experience that you won’t get at home. It’s going straight into my Top10: Best Movies of 2019, and I hope you’ll love it as much as I do.
