1917

"Time is the enemy."

Action Dec 25, 2019 1h 59m R English

Director: Sam Mendes

Cast: George MacKay, Dean-Charles Chapman, Benedict Cumberbatch, Colin Firth, Mark Strong

4.7/5

IMDB 8.2

Synopsis

April 6th, 1917. As a regiment assembles to wage war deep in enemy territory, two soldiers are assigned to race against time and deliver a message that will stop 1,600 men from walking straight into a deadly trap.

Our Review

Sam Mendes crafts a World War I odyssey filmed to appear as a single continuous take - a technical achievement that never overwhelms the film's human core.

Immersive Craft

Cinematographer Roger Deakins (winning his second Oscar) uses the one-shot conceit to put you directly into the soldiers' shoes. There's no cutting away from horror or fear. The nighttime flare-lit sequence through the ruined French town is one of modern cinema's most extraordinary scenes.

George MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapman give grounded performances as the two soldiers racing across enemy territory to deliver a message that could save 1,600 lives. Brief appearances from Colin Firth, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Mark Strong add gravitas.