1917

SWITCH.

2019-12-11

⭐ 9

I really wanted to give this film five stars, but there is a curious introspection that prevents me from calling it perfection. Nevertheless, ‘1917’ is a brilliant piece of art, and clearly a personal project for Sam Mendes. Blending groundbreaking technology with detailed production components, it's sure to entertain audiences and garner respect from critics for its execution. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you when the Oscar nominations come out. - Charlie David Page Read Charlie's full article... https://www.maketheswitch.com.au/article/review-1917-sam-mendes-personal-war-story

Without a doubt, cinematically this is a visual tour de force. The one-shot approach becomes a distraction, at times, especially when one ponders "how did they do that?", but generally not enough to take away the wow factor. The story, and dialogue, not to mention logic are the real problems that take this movie from great, to merely good. The initial concept of sending two men on an imperitive mission to save 1600 men is ludicrous in itself, especially in a war where men were gassed and gunned down by the thousands. Sending only two of them into unknown situations, in no-man's-land was …

Finally yesterday I was able to experience 1917 and I ended up doing it at IMAX, something I didn't plan on, but after seeing it there, I can say this film deserves to be seen and heard in an IMAX room to remember why movies still need to be lived on a big screen. The visual odyssey of Sam Mendes and Roger Deakins is an incredible journey. Yes, the story is very thin but that's something that made 1917 a somewhat different film It's not a war epic, nor does it try to be one. It's kind of a lone wolf war story, though at the beginning it wasn't like that, and that's good because despite eve…

Stephen Campbell

2020-01-23

⭐ 8

**_Although partly a technical showcase rather than a story, it's still a terrific Great War movie_** >_In the newspapers you read: "Peacefully they rest on the spot where they have bled and suffered, while the guns roar over their graves, taking vengeance for their heroic death". And it doesn't occur to anybody that the enemy is also firing; that the shells plunge into the hero's grave; that his bones are mingled with the filth which they scatter to the four winds – and that, after a few weeks, the morass closes over the last resting-place of the soldier._ - Kanonier Gerhard Gürtler (Kö…

If you enjoy reading my Spoiler-Free reviews, please follow my blog @ https://www.msbreviews.com Let me just take a deep breath... Wait, one more... Uff, I have no idea how I survived this IMAX screening of 1917. Usually, I don't delve deep into technical stuff since most people don't know or don't care about these attributes, but it's impossible not to address Roger Deakins' cinematography. It's not the first time a film has been edited to appear as "one shot" (a continuous take), but it never fails to impress me. Alejandro G. Iñárritu's Birdman, Silent House starring Elizabeth Olsen, …

The Peruvian Post

2020-02-19

⭐ 8

"Director Sam Mendes employs distinctive but extraordinary shots in the first person during the two-hour footage, which makes the production work in many different ways. Although it sometimes results too shaky, it is thanks to George MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapman's performances that 1917 preserves both sombre but optimistic tones throughout the montage. In short, this is an exceptional approach to memorialise the hundredth anniversary of the end of the First World War". We are somewhere in France during the Trench Warfare [1915 - 1917] with a depleted British Army; the atmosphere, alongsi…

JPV852

2020-03-13

⭐ 9

Very well made war-drama all in a one-shot like format. Performance from George MacKay who I guess if nothing else could follow in the footsteps of Tom Cruise for his all-out running ability. Joking aside, really enjoyed this film which manages to provide enough character development for me to care about his well being and task. Probably my favorite of 2019. **4.5/5**

When it comes to impressive achievements in filmmaking, “1917” deserves to be near the top of the conversation. This war film, which unfolds in two hours of real time, is shot to appear as one continuous take. Thankfully, it is so much more than just a technical gimmick. The showiness eases up as the emotional weight of the story unfolds, but it’s still hard not to get stuck on the challenges and manner of the moviemaking rather than the characters that should be the focal point of the film. Set during the First World War, the story follows Schofield (George MacKay) and Blake (Dean-Charles …

Peter McGinn

2020-04-02

⭐ 9

I see that a lot is made of the technique they use to film this movie in one continuous shot, and it is very interesting, but I must confess I am not a student of film, merely a viewer. So you will find no critiques of the director or editor or that sort of technical detail. I like what I like. Anyway, I enjoyed this movie more than I expected I would. I am not big on war movies. The scenery seemed great to me, and though there were visually stunning scenes, they didn't try to pile on explosion after explosion to cater to that crowd. The two leads were at the same time heroes and regular gu…

I think this film with very great shot. also the actors was very good. But the story didn't appeal to me. haha

Trazbor O'Gukguk

2020-05-03

⭐ 7

Excellent original film. It truly sucks you in straight from the very first scene until the last. There's nothing predictable in this well thought out and very tense (soon to be) classic.

An incredible journey that will keep you on the edge of your seat, albeit without many surprises.

Beautifully shot. Music was superb. Premise interesting. Acting was good. But I've never yelled at a characters complete incompetence as much as I did this one. The Schofield dolt just stumbles around in a stupor the whole time doing just about everything he can wrong and it's basically sheer luck more people didn't die because of this nitwit. Schofield is annoying at first and over time he grows to real irritation. I can't express my true rage at this moron as the review would either be removed or filled with [explicative deleted] notations. As beautiful as the camera work and musi…

Wuchak

2021-12-26

⭐ 8

_**A horrific tour through hell on earth during WW1**_ After the curious German retreat to the Hindenburg Line during Operation Alberich, two British soldiers (George MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapman) are sent several miles into enemy territory to call off a doomed offensive. Released in 2019, "1917" was inspired by stories told to director Sam Mendes by his paternal grandfather about his combat experiences. The film is known for the impressive effect of two continuous takes, which was accomplished thru long takes and cinematic wizardry. The plot has similarities to “Saving Private Ry…

Nathan

2023-05-15

⭐ 10

1917 is on the of the best war films in cinema history. The plot is very basic, but the script is so strong that the it really does not matter. It is a individual journey of our two characters with the focus on perseverance rather than large scale war spectacles. It is very intimate, which sets itself apart from other films in the genre. The acting was incredible. Our two leads, George MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapman, have such amazing chemistry with a vast amount of emotional range. It had me verging on tears on more than one occasion. The cinematography was masterful. Sam Mendes is com…

Filipe Manuel Neto

2024-04-30

⭐ 10

**A superb, credible war film without vain heroism, which shows us the harshness of war and its inhumanity.** This film was the hit of 2019, and for good reason: it was directed by Sam Mendes, with a script based on his grandfather's war story and a huge production, of the highest quality and full of well-achieved effects. And of course, the film was made in the aftermath of the centenary celebrations of the end of the First World War, which took place in 2018. Understandably, it was a sensation at that year's awards galas, in particular the Oscars, where it was nominated in ten categories,…

Eh, so-so. Just really didn't care about the film, including the death of one of the main characters. Maybe I'm just not a huge World War I guy since the second one tends to result in more enjoyment for me.

claristo

2026-06-01

⭐ 7

really gorgeous scenery and impressive cinematography - I really enjoyed the almost dystopian feel/aesthetic a lot of the scenes had and the running scene will always be iconic but otherwise kinda average if im being honest