Just got out of the 7 pm showing of one of my most anticipated films in a while, 1917. The Sam Mendes pic is a just under 2 hours long and just about every second of it was intense, exhilarating, and suspenseful. I was going to pop up an in depth review but I don’t even want to spoil it. So as of now ill just throw some quick praise it’s way as I truly feel that it’s an experience. In short...
GO SEE THIS FILM!!!
Besides having 2 relatively unknowns helming the leads (phenomenally) in George McKay and Dean-Charles Chapman, there are cameos by some big guns and veterans like Marc Strong, Colin Firth, Richard Madden, and Andrew Scott. The leads are brilliant and I was biting my nails throughout every second.
There are moments of sheer terror, sadness, amazement, despair, and hope...as these 2 brave soldiers are on a desperate race against time to delivery an important message to call off an imminent attack in order to prevent a massacre.
The film was shot with the feel of it being one giant continuous take which I can’t even imagine constructing. The planning and editing involved to pull this off where the audience is just watching it flow with perfection is a masterpiece...Mendes and Cinematographer Roger Deakins deserve all praise headed their way.
Now this isn’t the first film to attempt this technique. 2015’s Birdman also gave us a look at this style but Holy shit...a war film?!? It’s just stunning. It almost at times doesn’t even feel like a war film but more like a meaty drama/thriller that you can’t take your eyes away from.
If the Golden Globes are any indication of what’s to come with Mendes taking home Best Director and the film taking the high honor of Best Picture...I’m sure the Oscars will be headed in their direction as well.
So while this quick write up tells you nothing...it speaks the most important this which is to go see 1917 ASAP.
1917 opens fully January 10th in the states.
Blewitt