I finally saw 1917 and was blown away. I wrote a review. Lemme know if you agree or disagree.
The initial portion of this review will be spoiler free. A spoiler warning will be given before any plot details are given. If you prefer audio/video, click here.
1917 is a British war film released in 2019. If you’ve heard of it, it’s likely due to the unique way it was filmed: the entire movie is presented as one long take. It’s simultaneously fascinating, engaging and unnerving. Depending on your tastes, it can either be incredibly immersive or very distracting. I personally got lost in the film and felt like I was right there the entire time, watching real events take place as opposed to actors on a film set. Others may spend the entire time wondering about the technical angle and therefore allow the rest of the film to fall by the wayside.
Besides the unique way it was made, the film is phenomenal. The acting is stupendous, the cinematography is gorgeous, the action scenes are thrilling and the conclusion is satisfying. There’s not much moreI can say about the film without getting into spoilers, but I will say this: do yourself a favor and see the movie. It’s an incredible ride.
From this point on, we will be entering spoiler territory. Final warning.
Okay, full disclosure: 1917 is not one long take, but two long takes. However, I think keeping that knowledge a secret prevents viewers from actively anticipating the only cut in the film, as disingenuous as such a course may be. However, at the end of the day, 1917 isn’t really a film that can be spoiled. It doesn’t have intense plot twists or a crazy reveal - it’s a journey, a story that can only be experienced by watching the film.
The use of the single take works so well in the context of the story being told. The movie thrives on visual storytelling and the camera work amplifies that tremendously. For example, twice we have the camera follow Schofield as he loses sight of Blake, and when he regains sight of him, Blake is in a fight: first, with a group of fellow British soldiers carrying a wounded friend and later a German pilot who fatally stabs Blake. By having us miss the spark that starts the conflict but catch up midway and see it through to the resolution, we experience the sad and frustrating reality that everything can change in a second. The moment Blake decides to save the German soldier and spot the knife on the ground, you know what’s going to happen. Turning away and hearing the screams and struggle was the best way to portray something we knew would occur in an engaging way.
The film features a slew of renowned British actors in brief but powerful scenes. However, the actors portraying Schofield and the younger Blake, John Mackay and Dean-Charles Chapman respectively, deliver incredible performances. The long tales allow us to see extended periods where the two leads stay in character - not just by the way they deliver dialogue or their facial expressions, but the way they move and interact with the environment. I really hope these two get cast in more films after this.
The ending is somber and sober, but satisfying. General Mackenzie, as Schofield was forewarned, is upset and unappreciative of the order to suspend the attack. You can tell he would've rather all his men die fighting than stand around at wait. It almost feels like the whole journey, and Blake’s death, was a waste. However, Schofield delivering the news to the older Blake brother is such a poignant scene and far more satisfying, that the jackass move of Mackenzie doesn't matter anymore. When we first meet Schofield, he is sleeping on a tree and expresses to Blake he hates going home. At the climax, Schofield is physically and emotionally exhausted and finds another tree to rest at. Instead of going to sleep, he takes time to reflect on his family back home.
No movie is perfect. At the very least, the way the movie is presented will not sit well with some. We can nitpick at flaws - what are the chances the rat would set off the tripwire at the exact moment Schofield and Blake discover it? A user on moviemistakes.com pointed out that the soldiers wear historically inaccurate boots. But a film is a magic trick - the spectacle, the emotion, the journey is designed to distract you from the inevitable mistakes and shortcoming. 1917 exceeds in every aspect of film production, has so much heart and is a modern masterpiece.
10/10
Submitted June 16, 2020 at 04:40AM by Fiveminutegameplays https://ift.tt/2YAVvAs