An instant classic war movie!

Rating: 10/10 (22 January 2020)

This movie joins a relatively small number of war films that envelop you with the complete visceral, immersive experience of combat, such as "Platoon" of the Vietnam era and World War II's "Saving Private Ryan." The continuous shot works brilliantly and does not come across as a gimmick. The momentary glimpses of war-weary soldiers sleeping, smoking, snoozing and snacking are riveting. The bloodied, muddy uniforms are hyper-realistic. The pervasive images of the dead, both animal and human, are striking. The acting - depicting the camaraderie, devotion to duty and the mounting tension - is superb. The movie will leave an indelible mark on your mind as it provides a grunt's-eye view of World War I trench warfare, as well as the misery of hunkering down in those narrow ditches not knowing what the future holds.