Raw cinematic masterpiece

Rating: 10/10 (24 January 2020)

Even going in knowing that this was filmed on a single line, I was still astonished how Mendes pulled this off. This is a raw, hard war movie with raw, hard realities. Emotions are skewed in war; there is no time to mourn on the battlefield. Yet the acting is so good that the players appropriately convey sadness, loss, and pain in their own brief way, then continue on with the mission. The scene changes have almost a video game quality to them, from trench to bunker to large expanses of battlefield, from clouds to sun, from soaking wet to dry. I felt imersed in all of the physical textures in this film much like the Revenant, where you left the theatre feeling cold and sore. I want to say no more here about this film and encourage others to go see it on the big screen. You will have not seen anything like this before. Absolutely stunning.