1917 (2019): 7 Critical Questions [movie review]

Genre — war drama, thriller
Cast — Dean-Charles Chapman, George MacKay, Colin Firth, Mark Strong, Andrew Scott, Benedict Cumberbatch
Director — Sam Mendes
Budget — 90–100 000 000 USD

1. What’s the story?
Two young fellows are having a short break during WWI until they are hit with a mission to hand-deliver a message across No Mans Land, uncharted enemy territory and dead landscape to a battalion of 1600 men so that they don’t run into the enemy’s trap. “1917” is a simulation of the mission. Also, it’s about the dehumanizing nature of war, which treats individuals as easily reprecepable tools.

2. What’s special about the film?
You have probably heard about this multiple times but the technical aspects and cinematography behind the “let’s make it look like one take” idea. Jesus, it looks bloody good (PS. some reviewers have seen biblical motifs hidden in the story too) and turns the straightforward and very limited story quite gripping and immersive! This is a movie that hunts you long after until you find yourself 3 am looking at making of videos and feeling deep admiration towards the craft and skills of filmmakers.