A much needed bold take on war graced by technicalities and performances - 1917 film review

There are two ways to tell how futile war is, in films. You tell it or show it or both. 1917 uses both devices extensively and effectively.

Sam Mendes' eighth directorial comes good in all it attempts to emulate. More importantly, it comes at the right time. Everything happens in the movie works in its favour.

The British army's higher command sends an emissary to a battalion ordering to call the attack off, does the message reach before time forms the rest of the story.

Cinematography enjoys a pivotal role in the film's success. There are single shot scenes, that are used in places where cuts would've failed to sustain our attention. Lighting too lights up the story, especially in a scene where missile over the sky dazzles on the ground.

Students of cinematography have copious amount of lessons to learn from 1917.

The no-beating-around-bush screenplay has less scope for too many actors. But, stellar performances of the few and fine actors is the cherry on top.

Again coming to the Director of Photography (DOP) Roger Deakins, used long shots with really few cuts to make the time-bound screenplay authentic. The first scene has Two British Lance corporals Tom Blake (Dean Charles Chapman) and William Schofield (George McKay) peregrinate to their mission, has a long but riveting shot where every step of a soldier has a lot in store.

There is an Acapella piece 'poor wayfarer' capturing the idea the movie propounds in a very moving manner.

It's high time people relook into the horrors of wars and World War in particular through movies like 1917, to keep the doors shut to World War 3 that stands at our doorstep.

War is obviously not all that patriotic and heroic, it definitely not is for those waiting for their loved ones  fighting in the war. This dispassionate view on war needs a lot courage to put forth.

The episodic and individualistic perspective on war is essential to repudiate the romanticized idea of war where the swarm of soldiers are shown overcome by bellicosity and nationalistic fervour, in war movies.

There is a line in this movie 'Medal doesn't change anything, it doesn't make anyone special', simple as it may sound but the political construct that complicates our understanding is a matter of concern.