War of the Rings

Rating: 9/10 (8 February 2020)

1917
War films often have a massive cast, which means you're likely meet a few actors who don't quite have the chops. This is not one of those movies, everyone adds something to each scene, even if it's only for a brief moment. The choice of using a relative unknown like George MacKay in the leading role worked a treat. He hit the ground running (figuratively and literally) and not once did he take a break. Making the whole experience feel much more believable. That is until the celebrity cameos jump out at you and shout 'Hey I'm a famous actor!". Although acting well, they often burst the bubble briefly but MacKay swoops back in to ground the audience.
The whole movie is shot to make it look like it was filmed in one take. Now, this will divide audiences. For some, it will make them feel fully immersed in the world, for others it will remind them that there's a cast of thousands behind the camera. For me it was a mixture of both and I loved it.
I felt as though I was on a Tolkien-like adventure, in a strange world, meeting new travellers and battling evil. Although not as long as The Lord Of The Rings, it could have done with tightening towards the back half as it tended to linger on moments just a fraction too long. These are minor flaws in an otherwise amazing film.
One to see in the cinema, not only for the experience but a least you'll know what everyone is banging on about come Oscar time.

Nick

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