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Most war movies are filled with a bunch of noisy scenes that feature battalions of men marching into battle. They’re big and chaotic and loaded with action and explosions. But director Sam Mendes’s 1917 offers a very different take the typical war movie—without sacrificing the tension.
1917 goes on a deadly mission with Lance Corporal Blake (Dean-Charles Chapman) and his friend, Lance Corporal Schofield (George MacKay), a couple of British soldiers during the First World War. After the German army seemingly retreats, a battalion of soldiers plans to attack—but aerial footage shows that they’ll be marching into a trap. With their communications cut and just hours remaining until the planned attack, Schofield and Blake are sent deep into enemy territory with orders to stop the attack in an attempt to save 1,600 men—including Blake’s older brother.
Though the two soldiers are assured that the Germans have packed up and left, there’s so much more to their mission than just a miles-long hike to relay a message. They may not be marching into battle, but as they journey through the trenches and out into a barren no man’s land inhabited by little more than corpses and rats, the tension begins to build—and it increases to heart-stopping levels as they find themselves facing traps and obstacles and enemy soldiers. Even as they tell humorous stories in an attempt to distract from the dangers of the mission, they’re never able to let their guard down—because the enemy could be hidden around any corner.
More than just the story of two men on a mission, though, 1917 is an unforgettable look at the realities of war a century ago—of life in the trenches, of the death and destruction that war leaves in its wake, of the anguish and fear facing each and every soldier. The script may be simple, but it offers brief but powerful glimpses into the lives of these men.
At the same time, the film is also technically stunning. From the cinematography to the effects and the sound—all of the pieces work together to create an entirely immersive experience. You’ll feel as if you’re there, trudging through the barren landscapes, racing through the darkness. It’s a striking film, both visually and emotionally—the kind that will pull you in and never fully let go.
While a lot of World War movies seem to be the same—the same noisy action sequences, the same stories—1917 offers a different story and a different perspective. It isn’t the brainless blockbuster that you might be seeking after the usual holiday craziness, but it’s a remarkable war drama.
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