1917- So much potential...?

Rating: 8/10 (3 March 2020)

With director Sam Mendes inspired by his own grandfather, this deeply personal story had fantastic potential to be the next Great War epic.
The writing and filming techniques are very ambitious; they clearly make you feel like you are there, seeing the scenes through the characters eyes. While the cinematographic aspects of this are interesting, it sometimes feels like they focus on this too much, which meant the character development is somewhat weak. We never really get to know the main characters well, making it difficult to be invested in their ultimate fate. It is likely this was an intentional move from Mendes to illustrate the famous British 'stiff upper lip', but it is a little clumsy in its execution. It is important to mention the ending; this film absolutely has you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end, and while it should have been a satisfying ending, with the characters succeeding in their mission, it leaves you feeling slightly defeated. The way the film illustrates the terrible waste of life, taking you right to the heart of the trenches and ultimately knowing that despite this short respite, nearly 10 million military personal died during WW1 really hits home.