1917 (Review)

Parasite was an excellent movie, to be sure; it absolutely deserved to win Best Picture. Still, rewatching this movie made me once again wish that 1917 was given an opportunity to shine on its own merits. Directed by Sam Mendes and starring Dean-Charles Chapman and George MacKay as Lance Corporals Blake and Schofield, 1917 is a masterwork of cinematography that appears to the viewer as if it was a single long take. This gives the film a breathless air to it which immerses the viewer in the action. Even moments of rest are almost painful to watch, as the viewers know just as well as the characters that those moments are fleeting.

The story is simple, but not without emotional depth. The two men we follow are tasked with delivering a message that could potentially save thousands of lives, as well as Corporal Blake’s older brother. What allows the story to succeed is the exceptional performances from both actors. My favorite example (spoiler alert) is the death of Corporal Blake. As hard as it is to believe, apparently when his face goes pale after being stabbed, there were no visual effects! Dean-Charles Chapman just did it himself.

If ever there was a story that captured war at its most hopeless and hopeful, it would be 1917. The characters all have hopes, whether it be for the end of the war, or to survive, or to save their comrades. The film uses its groundbreaking cinematography to immerse the viewer, rather than as a spectacle. In the face of literal piles of corpses and impossible odds, the viewer is forced to find hope in the little things, whether it be the safety of a young woman and the baby she cares for, the beauty of cherry trees, or the brief moment of vulnerability between two soldiers as they discuss a man that they both loved.

Overall, 1917 gets a 10 out of 12 stars from me.