A real cinematic experience.

Rating: 9/10 (16 February 2020)

I've watched only a few war films (mostly Vietnam War and maybe one or two WWII pictures) so I can't really compare this to other WWI films. Having just watched this film, I'm glad I haven't watched any of the others because this was quite an experience. Everything about this film was epic-Roger Deakins' smooth cinematography, Lee Smith's seamless editing, Thomas Newman's great score, and Sam Mendes' realistic directing. The concept of a one continuous long shot really fits this film-it really felt like being in the frontlines of a battlefield. The performances, especially George MacKay as Lance Corporal Scofield was captivating. Lance Corporal Blake's death scene near the midpoint was probably one of the best acted scenes I've seen in recent years. It is definitely a cinematic experience that can only be felt by either going to the theater or watching it on a huge screen.