Poignant, intimate, oppressive and bombastic! Mendes' uncut war!

Rating: 9/10 (3 February 2020)

In addition to two "James Bond" films, Sam Mendes has made many moving and strong works, such as "American Beauty", "Road to Perdition" and "Jarhead". This time Mendes returns spectacularly and poignantly to the war theme with "1917". The undercover favorite at the next Oscars (he has been nominated for ten trophies). Well, the Oscars have long ceased to be as important as they used to be, but of course I'm happy when a film like this is honored. For me, "1917" is already one of the best films in 2020!
1917: The British soldier Lance Corporal Blake, together with his friend Lance Corporal Schofield, is ordered to cancel an attack on the Germans. To do this, they have to travel a long way to get to the western front. It's about saving hundreds of soldiers from a massacre. The order is all the more important for Blake because his older brother is among the units ...
The film got into conversation quickly because "1917" is arranged so that everything looks like one shot. Of course there are some hidden cuts here (as with "Birdman" from 2015), but visually "1917" stands out right from the start. A beautiful and breathtaking looking film and the reason is quickly determined: Roger Deakins. He is the best camera operator for me in his field. One of his most recent projects, "Blade Runner 2049", is one of the most powerful and beautiful films of all time for me.

In Mendes' film again he creates unique images and scenes. Like how a city lights up in dark flames and tranforms into a real hell. Then it gets really intimate again when the camera follows the two soldiers into a mine. One spectacular setting chases the next. For this reason alone, you should see this film. Thomas Newman underlines the visually stunning epic with a moving score. Perhaps a little too sentimental for some, but I found Newman's score to be very moving (which funnily fits the visual style of the movie), no matter whether it were the emotional or the dark, atmospheric moments.
Fortunately, the film can also convince in another area: the story. For some it may just be a film in which two soldiers have to achieve a goal, but for me it is exactly this simple story that leaves a lot of space for visual storytelling. There are also longer dialogue scenes, but "1917" often also works as a very calm war film, which is more about the physical challenges. But a figure can also grow on it, which in my opinion is shown stunningly.
The cast is wonderful: George McKay and Dean-Charles Chapman are both great as protagonists. In addition, big names shine, such as Colin Firth or Benedict Cumberbatch. I appreciate the fact that many of the characters, both meet along the way can only be seen once (which also applies to the locations!). Mendes creates the feeling of having to go a long way with the two main characters, where you don't look back, you just move forward.
Conclusion: "1917" will surely remind many of Christopher Nolan's "Dunkirk". Both films have a similar structure and similar themes, but each film is something different. I was a little afraid that "1917" would try to be the new "Dunkirk", but Sam Mendes made the film something special (like Nolan did with his movie). A moving war drama that is completely convincing both visually and with its history!