The Film Tease

I watched 1917 this week after growing excitement and boy, did it not disappoint. I’ve never been a big “war film” fan but I knew I had to watch 1917 after seeing Dunkirk a few years ago and loving that experience. If I can suggest anything, it’s watching these types of movies in IMAX because the experience is like nothing else. 1917 was two hours of gripping and palpable tension that sat with you throughout the entire film. From the very start until the very end, it felt like there was this force that stayed with you as it did with the characters. Who had time for snacks when your stomach felt uneasy for that long? Not me!

1917 was filmed mostly as one/continuous shot. The cuts were strategic and didn’t feel like they were breaking up the scenes but rather, a part of them. I’ve always thought that continuous shots felt like roller coasters because the camera is unsteady and moves within the scene. Some people don’t like it that much – my boyfriend was one of those people – however I’ve always been a fan. The continuous shot worked especially well for 1917 because as a viewer, you felt as though you were side by side with the main characters Lance Cpl. Schofield and Lance Cpl. Blake. Whether they’re making their way through the trenches or trekking through no mans land on their impossible task, you feel as though you are right there with them.

And it’s terrifying, that feeling of fear, because even though you know you’re not a part of their world and their war, it feels as though you have been sucked into their narrative. Not many films can successfully manage to make their audiences feel as though they have left their own world behind and joined another.

1917 was in many ways, a lot. It was a lot of story, action, and emotions in a short amount of time. To me, it was an overwhelming film experience because you were transfixed by the story throughout its entirety. I distinctly remember the people behind me munching on their popcorn throughout the trailers and the first 20 or so minutes of the movie. But once Blake and Schofield got their mission and started it, the eating ceased. That’s how powerful the film was. You were too engrossed and afraid to do anything but sit there and watch it because you didn’t want to miss a single thing.

1917 was also an incredibly real war film. Usually the horrors of war are glossed over… you know war is awful, horrible, disgusting, and inhumane. But how often do you actually see it? Let me tell you, if you have a weak stomach, prepare yourself because you will see a lot of realness in this move. Bloated bodies, dismembered bodies, decomposed horses, and rats running through dead bodies in bomb holes. It may seem like a lot to some viewers but I appreciated seeing the reality of war because it made the experience even more real.

The cinematography was absolutely beautiful. The acting was superb… and the symbolism? Perfection. The overall experience was one that stuck with me long after I finished watching the movie. I remember every emotion that I felt (yes I cried at times) because they felt real. I mourned certain characters and almost cheered out loud for Schofield when he was close to delivering the message. I felt the relief that he felt when Mackenzie called off the attack. Everything just felt so real because it was made to feel that way.

I needed a mental break after the film because of all of the emotions that coursed within me throughout the two hours. And although it felt overwhelming at times, I loved every second of it. I need a film to make me feel something; to not take me away but to make feel as if I am alongside the characters on the screen. When the movie finally ended, I felt like I completed the mission as well. And boy, did it feel good.

Sam Mendes, you are an absolute genius. I thank you for 1917 and for the care and craft you put into it.

Please, go out and see it if you have not yet. Even if you’re not a war film fan… you will not regret watching this one.