A raw, down-to-earth account of a significant moment in the First World War shown off with beautiful cinematography

Rating: 9/10 (9 January 2020)

1917 is a war film co-written and directed by Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Skyfall). Starring George Mackay and Dean-Charles Chapman, it is a raw, down-to-earth account of a significant moment in the First World War shown off with beautiful cinematography.
During World War I on April 6, 1917, one section of the British army are informed that the Germans are faking a retreat as a means to ambush an attacking Battalion of more than 1,600 men. Since the Germans have cut all technological lines of communication, there is no normal way of letting the Battalion know that they are being led into a trap. Left with no other option, two young British soldiers Schofield (George Mackay) and Blake (Dean-Charles Chapman) are tasked with delivering a handwritten warning letter to the Battalion, with whom the latter's brother is a part of. With time clearly not on their side, the two of them must carefully navigate through dangerous enemy territory to transfer the message before it is too late.
Cleverly utilising both landscape and its actors to tell a compelling story, 1917 may be one of the most ingenious war films to grace cinemas in quite some time. Much like Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk before it, the film uses the backdrop of a World War to show how every second counts in just about all important situations. We are constantly on edge over whether or not these brave young men will survive any obstacles they are put through, from the rat-infested trenches of no-man's land to an eerily quiet abandoned farm. The theme of mateship is evidently shown throughout, with both soldiers ready to risk it all to defend each other in the face of these hardships.
Co-writer/director Sam Mendes, who based this film on stories his grandfather Alfred told him as a child, brilliantly implements the work of acclaimed cinematographer Roger Deakins to give the impression that the whole thing is shot in one take. This puts the audience into the perspective of a World War I soldier, feeling all the claustrophobia of the cramped trenches and the shell shock of nearby explosions. There were several moments where I wondered how certain things would be shown to the audience without the need to cut away but each time the film amazingly found ways to do this. This is similar to Alejandro G. Inarritu's 2014 film "Birdman" and Alfred Hitchcock's 1948 classic "Rope", which were also edited to look like they were filmed in one continuous take. While there are apparently some hidden cuts at times, there is only one that is plainly obvious. I am intrigued to figure out where the other cuts are and repeated viewings should help in that regard.
Relatively low-key actors George Mackay and Dean-Charles Chapman each do a fine job of carrying the film, much like their characters carrying the important message to the unsuspecting Battalion. The decision not to have big name actors in the lead roles works to the film's advantage, as it does not distract from the fact that these are supposed to be normal everyday soldiers who don't stand out in a crowd. With that said, more well known cast members like Colin Firth, Mark Strong, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Andrew Scott make for welcome additions to the film playing minor but crucial supporting roles.
In conclusion, while it may seem that the horrors of war have already been shown off enough by this point, the film proves that if it is told correctly, we can still be informed of how difficult things were for any soldier on the front line risking it all for not only his country but his fellow man. The sense of public duty and overall determination is a powerful thing, and at the end of it all, it is what keeps the human race going as a species.
I rate it a solid 9/10