A masterfully-made film that does get in its way sometimes.

Rating: 9/10 (15 January 2020)

Don't be confused: this movie was absolutely amazing. The way they shot many of the scenes from the No-Man's Land to the ruined village was absolutely breathtaking. This movie along with Blade Runner: 2049 should be studied on how to direct or shoot a film.
The film was also edited flawlessly as you could hardly find the cuts between scenes. And it really does work...most of the time. There were some scenes, such as when Schofield has an emotional moment, that take away from the true heartfelt potential in the film. The first ten minutes of the movie, I thought, didn't need the single-shot experience and made me feel distracted by the gimmick and not the movie.
But trust me: when it works, it really works. One of my favorite movies is Children of Men because of how the film was shot and edited. The part where Clive Owen tries to cut through the battlezone to get to the girl and her child was one of rhe most brilliant pieces of filmmaking I've seen. 1917 reminded me of that in many ways. Roger Deakins is a master cinematographer and really knows how to make a frame look like a painting. The scope of the camerawork captures so much depth that you do feel immersed in the film. The scene where Schofield runs from two German soldiers in a ruined village stands out the most for me. All of this combined with the incredibly powerful score really adds to the gravitas the film provides.
The most subtle piece that needs to be acclaimed, though, is the casting. That the two main actors are unknowns keeps the focus on them and their skills. The biggest names come and go like cameos, but you know exactly who they are. I don't know the two main actors, but you're engrossed with them and not distracted by their familiarity.
1917 is a masterful war epic. Beautifully shot, epically scored, solidly directed. There are moments where the style overpowers the substance, but it makes up with moments of solid storytelling.