“1917” (2019) directed by Sam Mendes / Z-View

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1917 (2019) 

Director: Sam Mendes

Screenplay: Sam Mendes, Krysty Wilson-Cairns

Stars: Dean-Charles Chapman, George MacKay, Daniel Mays, Colin Firth, Andy Apollo, Billy Postlethwaite, Gabriel Akuwudike, Andrew Scott, Robert Maaser, Benedict Cumberbatch and Mark Strong.

Tagline: Time is the enemy.

The Plot…

The year is 1917.  World War I rages.  Officers on the British front lines are surprised to see German troops withdrawing.  The British mistakenly believe that the Huns are retreating.  They’re not.  What the Germans are actually doing is a systematic extraction.  They want the British to believe that they’re on the run.  They know the British will believe the time to attack is now.  What the British on the front don’t realize is they’re being tricked into running headlong into a trap.

British officers away from the front get aerial evidence of the trap.  Unfortunately communication to the front is down.  Two young British corporals are selected to slip behind enemy lines with orders to the British officers stand down.  Time is of the essence.  The errand is a suicide mission, but if the message isn’t delivered, thousands of British soldiers will be massacred.

Time is ticking…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

1917 was nominated for ten Academy Awards, winning three

  • winner Best Achievement in Cinematography – Roger Deakins
  • winner Best Achievement in Visual Effects – Guillaume Rocheron, Greg Butler, Dominic Tuohy
  • winner Best Achievement in Sound Mixing – Mark Taylor, Stuart Wilson
  • nominee Best Motion Picture of the Year
  • nominee Best Achievement in Directing – Sam Mendes
  • nominee Best Original Screenplay – Sam Mendes, Krysty Wilson-Cairns
  • nominee Best Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling – Naomi Donne, Tristan Versluis, Rebecca Cole
  • nominee Best Achievement in Production Design – Dennis Gassner, Lee Sandales
  • nominee Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Score) – Thomas Newman
  • nominee Best Achievement in Sound Editing – Oliver Tarney, Rachael Tate

Sam Mendes and his editor, Lee Smith worked together to make the film appear as if it was shot in one continuous take.  It works.

1917 is based on director Sam Mendes’ grandfather’s experiences in World War I.  The film is dedicated to Mendes’ grandfather.

1917 (2019)  rates 4 of 5 stars.