Nothing short of breathtaking. A true achievement.

Rating: 10/10 (17 January 2020)

One of my most anticipated films of 2019 was 1917. What makes this film so grand is it's emotional power, technical innovation, and unforgettable attention to detail. What has attracted so many audiences is the camerawork. The camerawork has been praised so much it might seem like overselling it. If anything, we're underselling it. It is designed as two extraordinarily long, unbroken shots. It puts you directly into the film as though you're the third person in the mission. But this film does something very special and that is how you often forget about the "gimmick" because of the masterful story and the tour de force, starmaking performance from George MacKay who brings so much physicality and emotion to each and every sequence in the film.
The writing is straight forward. It's about two British soldiers' treacherous mission across enemy lines in France. It excels in realizing its scenario with each set piece. Simple and straight forward to be sure, but shows how to do simple and straight forward the right way.
The technical work is outstanding work all across the board. The sound, the visual effects, and of course the sheer size, detail and greatness of the production design. It's amazing work throughout such as the mine, No Man's Land, or the destroyed town. Beautiful stuff. The cinematography is one of Deakins' greatest achievements. It brings you into every shot. Every shot that is so gorgeous in its visual details of so many kinds. I mean he has amazing scenes of the grey No Man's Land, he also somehow finds the most photogenic way to show foxhole gridlock, it is fascinating. He creates just one painting after another He creates a beauty to every time or type of day. The shot of the changing flares/bombed out city is one of the greatest shots of all time and in itself is worthy of an Oscar win.
The score might be one of the most underrated aspects of the film. It's tremendous and it's Newman's crowning achievement.This in creating such gorgeous pieces of work, that does definitely owe a debt to Zimmer's work for Thin Red Line and Dunkirk, making use of every bit of his orchestra. This in creating work essential to each scene in building the tension of every sequence, while also just being incredibly beautifully grand pieces on their own.
Sam Mendes does not waste one thing at his disposal. Everything matters. Everything clicked.. Whether it be the production design, Deakins, the sound, the score, the effects and even the editing that makes it all invisible. This is a must watch for fans of Mendes, war films, or just great movies in general. It brought me chills and left my mouth wide open several times. Anything short of an Oscar would be a disservice. I can't wait to watch it again.