In 1820, United States Army General William Tecumseh Sherman famously said, “War is hell. You cannot qualify war in harsher terms than I will. War is cruelty and you cannot refine it.” That “hell” is on full display in Sam Mendes’ new masterpiece, 1917. The story tells the tale of two young British soldiers tasked with a seemingly impossible mission during the First World War. In a film where you can practically smell the gunpowder, 1917 has no qualms when it comes to thrusting the viewer along the frontlines of trench warfare.
Seamlessly shot in what looks like one continuous take, 1917 tells the story of Schofield (George Mackay) and Blake (Dean- Charles Chapman), two soldiers who are tasked with delivering a message across enemy lines that has the potential to save thousands of lives, however, there’s a catch: they have a finite amount of time to deliver the message. To complicate matters, Blake’s brother is one of the soldiers on the frontlines. With only precious hours to spare, time is of the essence, which prompts Schofield and Blake to set off on foot. While 1917 at times resembles watching a friend play a “Call of Duty” video game, the film wouldn’t work without the bravura performances of its two young leads. As viewers, we are fully invested in the fate of their mission.
Director Sam Mendes has taken somewhat gimmicky material that could’ve been disastrous in the hands of a less accomplished director and created a modern war classic rife with tension and technical wizardry. War is hell, and thankfully, Mendes spares no detail. 1917 is a fully immersive roller coaster ride that should be seen on the biggest screen possible.
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By SCOTT PETERSON
cinesportstalk.com | @CineSportsTalk