It is filmed entirely with the camera always on the 2 main subjects, from a variety of points of view (except for one brief moment).
The story is of 2 soldiers who need to get to the front lines to prevent 1600 soldiers from charging into a trap. One of the men’s brother is an officer due to lead a company.
It reminded me of the story line of Saving Private Ryan, but the tension never lets up. Light on blood and guts, but heavy on realism of life in the trenches, and utter despair to fight in those conditions.
As I said, the cinematography is truly amazing, and it should take in many awards this year (if you care about that.)
Please feel free to add your impressions, if you’ve seen it. I’m curious to hear what my brothers and sisters think.
Yes, I’m also curious about what others think of this movie.
and it should take in many awards this year
It would if the 2 soldiers were gay.
The 2006 movie “Flyboys” was the best WWI movie ever made.
ping
Just returned from seeing it. The cinematography was excellent, the story line/character development sparse and the intensity pervasive.
Everything I’ve read made it seem like the movie is “Run Lola Run” on a battlefield.
Thank for the review .I intend to see it.
WWI is one of my favorite History topics.
Both my father and my father-in-law served.
My Grandfather served in the trenches in WW1 as a cartographer, which mean the went on scouting missions with a guard or without to map artillery emplacements, machine guns etc. There is a scene in the movie “Legends of the fall” that reminds me of his experience on the battlefield where the youngest brother is guarding a cartographer doing the same role. The Cartographer was killed and the brother was blinded by mustard gas and machine gunned mercilessly.
I share this as my grandfather was mustard gassed in the war and had physical issues as a result. From his diary he also reflected that their were others, I presume Scots., whose kilts would float on the surface of the water in the trench waist deep so they looked like lily pads. I would say that he had residue of PTSD from his experiences documented in his diary from the time and drinking which I am sure stilled the memories.
Another movie that I have watched many times that to me bespeaks another aspect is “The Lost Battalion” based on real events https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyJwtC8kwJM
RIP Grandpa George, I know you saw a lot that you kept inside. hope to see you soon in Heaven
Another one for my “to see” list.
Joker
Midway
Jewell
1917
So far I’ve only made it to Joker which was excellent.
I would like to see it, partly just the fact that it is one of the ignored wars.
I was p,eased years back with “War Horse”. Almost no real WWI movies are ever made, but it was very intense and covered so much ground literally and in scale.
I never heard of this movie, let alone war. Was blown away by this:
At the time of our civil war, but with much better rifles and artillery. the opening salvo was some of the best war cinematography. Spare a few minutes and be awed.
The topic and cinematography was good but whenever I see a movie where they have British accents it’s difficult for me to understand all of the dialogue...especially when they’re speaking fast so I always feel like I’m missing critical information.
We just saw it tonight. Amazing cinematography on the big screen!
click-bait.
I was going to see it until Ron Howard went off on that rant against President Trump last week.
Don’t know if i can watch it. my grandfather fought in WWI
We plan to see it this weekend.
Joyeux Noel remains my favorite WW 1 movie - most soldiers in the trenches didn’t care for the war, but were caught in geo politics that went out of control. The Christmas truce of 2014 was based true events. Soldiers that were there, late in life, said it was the most memorable Christmas of their lives.
I think any veteran who has spent Holidays away from home (especially overseas) would relate to Joyeux Noel - I can still remember those holidays, and it’s been over 49 years.
Just saw 1917 in the theater. Liked it a lot. It is technically superb and I found it quite moving in a few parts. Convincingly portrays the meatgrinding muck of WWI. Gets you thinking about how men were able to function in those conditions. Some nice surrealism in the bombed out city scenes with the shifting lighting from the flares.
Bttt