*Not much to spoil here

IMDB Synopsis

Two British soldiers receive seemingly impossible orders during World War I. In a race against time, they must cross into enemy territory to deliver a message that could potentially save 1,600 of their fellow comrades — including one’s own brother.

Writing about this movie is so hard because it is such a stunning achievement that it is difficult to really put into words. On the surface Director Sam Mendes (Skyfall) and Cinematographer Roger Deakins (Blade Runner 2049) did was make an inspired movie about World War 1. On the other hand they created one of the coolest looking movies ever created on screen.

From my buddy Jordan

*Think about the set of a World War 1 Movie, Outdoors, random fields pocketed with mortar craters, trenches, and mud. Oh Lord all the mud! For Sam Mendes and Roger Deakins to create this continuous shot over two hours of filming is worthy of every technical award out there, and it made this the most immersive War movie I have seen since Saving Private Ryan.

The story of 1917 is relatively simple, two young soldiers (Schofield and Blake) who need to journey with a message for another troop, in order to save them from imminent death. The way this movie is told though is stylized through a one take format that makes you feel like you are on the adventure with our heroes.

Watching the movie you feel like you are walking along the paths, or the mud, or the river with Schofield and Blake because of the way it is shot. The camera never cuts it only goes behind a rock for a second but the take will continue, similar to Inarritu’s Birdman or Hitchock’s Rope (Rope is insane if you have not seen it). This makes the simple story so visceral and makes you feel for the characters even more because you feel like you are there with them.

Stock Watch

Stock Up – George MacKay

MacKay played Schofield and really got most of the emotional moments of the movie. He was the hero who did not want to be a part of the journey at the beginning but by the end was the guy you could not stop rooting for. I loved the energy he brought at all times and I look forward to seeing him more.

Stock Up – Dean Charles Chapman

Chapman is a guy you may know the guy as King Tommen because he created one of the funniest gifs of all time.

However, he is kind of having a break out year after his great role in Blinded by the Light and now a star turn in this movie. He is the motivator and the hero who will jump in front of anything without fear. He is also hilarious and really brought that to this performance as well. I look forward to his continued rise in 2020.

Who’s That Guy?

Mark Strong – 107 IMDB Acting Credits

Mark Strong was one of the three major cameos in this, but the only one that feels like a That Guy. He always is showing up in random stuff and it was fun to see him in a scene here where he felt like he fit right in.

*A couple other tidbits

• Benedict Cumberbatch and Colin Firth were great in their one scene roles respectively.
• The score by Thomas Newman was phenomenal the whole time and really had you going to the beat of the story.
• There are some uncomfortable shots in this but it only adds to the realness of the story.

What an absolutely stunning movie put together by two masters in Mendes and Deakins. I have never seen anything like this and for all the people complaining that movies are not creative anymore, go see these type of movies.

Juice Rating:

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