A staggering WW1 film that is immensely immersive and quietly harrowing

Rating: 10/10 (31 December 2019)

For your information, Sam Mendes' directed masterpiece is based on a story told from his grandfather who served in the WW1 and was assigned the similar task depicted in this film. I sensed the honesty in the storyline. For example, the extent of the German military intelligence was not understated. The one continuous shot definitely made the biggest contribution; Mendes and his team did a masterful job minimizing cuts or transitions while seamlessly shooting the battlefield scenes. I was extremely mesmerized by Roger Deakins' vivid cinematography that I think he deserves a second Oscar. Thomas Newman's score was marvelous, which lifted and sank my heart in scene by scene. The production designers accurately recreated the war zones and trenches where soldiers endured both the terror and desolation of war.
Forbes reviews 1917 as "The Best Picture of the Year," and I completely agree with that assertion. This deserves to join the list of films that will be highly regarded and recognized during this awards cycle, such as Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, The Irishman, Parasite, and Marriage Story.