The one-shot novel depiction from Sam Mendes is a masterpiece
Apart from the celebrated team behind the movie with a thoughtful screenplay, if there was another thing that made 1917 a cinematic brilliance, it was the novel approach of the director Same Mendes along and Roger Deakins to craft this war epic to appear like a one-take continuous shot.
Based loosely on the recollections of Mendes’ grandfather, Alfred Mendes, the movie is a tribute to him from Mendes. Directed and written by Sam Mendes, co-written by Krysty Wilson with cinematography from Roger Deakins, starring George MacKay, Dean-Charles Chapman, Mark Strong, Andrew Scott, Richard Madden, Claire Duburcq, Colin Firth, and Benedict Cumberbatch, the movie consists of some extremely fine artists. It chronicles a tale of two young English soldiers during World War I as they were assigned to deliver a message in the spring of 1917.
Mendes takes us on the horrifying and tiresome journey of the young me. He makes us watch what soldiers were seeing. The movie begins with two men; Blake played Dean-Charles Chapman and Schofield played by George MacKay, who are lance-corporals in the British Force during the Great War. They are sent to report to their commanding officer, Colin Firth, for a mission.
Picture: Universal
A colossal mobilization of the British troops is taking place under the false pretence of security and victory as they are lured by the prospect of German retreat, but are actually, heading to the German trap. The British regiment includes Blake’s brother too and with phone line down, and no other source of communication, it’s left on the two young soldiers to march into the territory to prevent the company from entering the trap and thereby a slaughtering, gory war.
Then, begins the journey of Blake and Schofield against everyone’s suggestion, to the war-stricken territory through a post-apocalyptic landscape, running through barbed-wires and craters, dead bodies, rats and bombed out of tunnels. Gradually, they stumbled into the German trenches and the realisation of their better preparations, types of equipment and a higher probability of victory, dawns upon them. Exhilarated, grief-stricken and terrified, the boys must continue. With every passing minute, they are pushed more and more into chaos and loss.
Picture: Universal
1917 is a cinematic marvel. The uninterrupted shot novelty has added so much value to the movie. It wouldn’t be unfair to say that even though the War Epic drama has a compelling story, strong performances and brilliant sound work and fascinating visual effects, it’s the camera work that is truly the star of the movie.
1917 is released in the US on 25 December, in Australia on 7 January 2020 and in the UK on 10 January 2020.