Being a huge fan of war films, with Saving Private Ryan being a personal favourite and having seen a behind-the-scenes feature on how this film was shot, as well as knowing about the Oscar nominations it has received, my excitement before seeing 1917 was strong. My biggest concern before going in was the potential for the way the film was shot, making it look as though it was all done in one take, to come across as gimmicky, but did this and the film itself hold up and put across an authentic war time experience on the front line?
For the most part, it does and in a technically astounding way too. 1917, directed by Sam Mendes, tells the story of two British soldiers, played by George McKay and Dean-Charles Chapman, who are tasked with the mission of making it across the battlefield to deliver a message warning of a German ambush. One soldier is experienced and hardened, whilst the other is slightly more naïve, creating a nice contrast as they move along on the mission together. The filming technique and the effort that was put into it are both really great, leading to some visually breath taking shots and set pieces. Both of the main actors do really well and there are cameo appearances from some British acting veterans, although they don’t seem to have been too involved in the marketing, so I won’t spoil them here.
The soundtrack for 1917, composed by frequent Mendes collaborator Thomas Newman, is a key part of what makes the film work, ramping up the urgency when it needs to, but also hopeful in spots as well as adding an overall epic sense of scale to the film and the journey that these characters embark on. Another thing about 1917 that really impressed me was the way that any injury or any attack the characters are affected by carries long term consequences. For example, if they get a cut or a wound, this will have to be tended to, with the effects of it sometimes still being felt for the rest of the film. This helps to give the characters an air of vulnerability and humanity, which sets it apart from some war films, where characters get up from explosive attacks without so much as a scratch – it makes everything feel so much more real.
This leads onto, for me, the best result of the choice to shoot the film as though it is all in one take, which is to give us a closer view of the battlefield and the trenches than, to my knowledge, a viewer has ever seen in a war film. We see the gory injuries, we see the dirtiness of the war and just how grimy, tight and uncomfortable the trenches were. 1917 doesn’t shy away from showing us this, although it isn’t done in an over the top manner, feeling very grounded, with the gore and action being shown in flashes, only adding to it’s impact. There is a real sense of spatial awareness, most probably down to Mendes’ past theatre directing work, there is always something happening in the background of the frame, with all of the characters and the environment constantly in play, which makes the world portrayed here feel really alive and pushes the feeling of immersion even further.
Perhaps the only thing that could be held against 1917 is it’s commitment to the filming style, which worked for me for the most part, but I could see others maybe having an issue with how it affects the film narratively. The film is very much a point A to point B adventure, but this is down to having to keep up the illusion of it all being filmed in one take. It does feel as though it is a string of sequences, but those sequences are spectacular and work incredibly well, with two of my favourites being saved for near the end of the film, where we get some stunning shots as the film reaches it’s climax. One of the sequences creates a hellish, surreal atmosphere, combining the score with beautiful lighting and imagery.
In the same vein as Jojo Rabbit, 1917 updates the idea and concept of a war time film, adding new dimensions to a type of film we have seen many times before. It is undeniably important that we continue to make, watch and discuss these types of films, so that these horrific events are never forgotten and the memories of the people who participated in them are kept alive. While Jojo Rabbit did it through the guise of a dark comedy, 1917 puts the viewer right in the trenches, creating an experience that will not be forgotten quickly and reminds us that old stories can continue to be told in new and creative ways.
Overall rating – 🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
Benson's Film Reviews 