Dean-Charles Chapman (Blake), George MacKay (Schofield), Daniel Mays (Sanders), Colin Firth (Erinmore), Billy Postlethwaite (Harvey), Benedict Cumberbatch (Mackenzie), Adrian Scarborough (Hepburn).
1917 launches quickly, jumping right to the storyline with little character introductions or plot setup. Focus is shifted at the start to Blake and Schofield and from there the story is off and running. The two are assigned the mission of crossing enemy lines to deliver a message to Col. Mackenzie to halt his planned pursuit and attack of a retreating enemy which it has been discovered is a trap. In a race against time the two young soldiers cross a decimated land littered with bodies, traps, and random enemy soldiers repeatedly testing their determination and humanity.
Acting was solid with Chapman and Mackay both delivering very well and seeming to work together easily. Both presented solid emotion throughout. Firth was good in a minor role, as was Cumberbatch. The remainder of the supporting cast, while appearing only briefly, were good.
Camera work, sets, backgrounds, and costuming are all well done. The film follows the two soldiers with no breaks or focus on others adding continuity and holding interest well. The large, apparently natural, landscapes and set size make the film visually impressive. Action scenes are solid, well done, and surprisingly mild for a war film. Dialogue is good with nice fit and depth. Sound and soundtrack are okay.
Overall 1917 is an quality war drama with technical work, acting, and plot movement that holds interest well. Those who enjoy tense drama or war stories should enjoy this one. Those hoping for intense battles or action may be disappointed.
With a fair amount of violence, gore, adult situations, and some foul language, this should be fine for older teens and above.
Released: 2019
Reviewed: 9.17.20
Star rating: 4 out of 5
Genre: War, Drama, Period Pieces, Military Films
copyright ©2020 Dave Riedel
No comments:
Post a Comment