Movie review: 1917

1917 is a work of art with its impressive editing and powerful visuals that manages to transport you back to the horrors and brutality of World War I. The movie is uniquely brilliant that manages to immerse its audience in a gripping and captivating storyline, that is not only consistent but also thrilling and emotional in its own ways. The story is simple: two soldiers who are charged with delivering an urgent letter to another battalion during World War I, and how they make their way through ‘No Man’s Land’: booby trapped and corpse strewn terrain, to the front lines. What really fascinated me to watch the movie is the fact that Sam Mendes, the director, did not consult history books so much as the stories told to him by his grandfather, Alfred Mendes, a messenger on the Belgian front, to whom the movie is dedicated.

1917 is a phenomenon to say the least, with its astonishing cinematography by Roger Deakins. The movie appears as a single shot movie, which is not only mesmerising but also symbolic. The camera movement and its unbroken sequence is synonymous to the protagonist reaching the destination in time, or rather, a non stop journey that keeps its audience at the edge of their seats.

The background score by Thomas Newman conveys a feeling of realism which feeds wonderfully into the already immersive atmosphere. The stellar performance by the cast is the icing on the cake. The performance of the two young leads Dean Charles Chapman and George Mackay is impressive. This is accompanied by a few cameos by well known actors: Benedict Cumberbatch, Andrew Scott, Richard Madden and Mark Strong. With just a few lines of dialogue, each of these characters becomes an important story checkpoints.

Towards the end of the movie, you know that Sam Mendes has created one of the best movies of 2019. So, grab your popcorn and be ready to watch this cinematic marvel!