An epic World War 1 film lauded for its fast-paced action and one-shot style is currently streaming on Netflix – and fans have described it as a “cinematic masterpiece”. 1917 tells the story of two young British soldiers, Lance Corporals Schofield and Blake (played by George MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapman) as they take on a perilous mission in northern France during the Great War.
It sees the pair racing to deliver a life-or-death warning to 1,600-strong remote regiment to prevent them being ensnared in a German trap. The film, directed by Bond director Sam Mendes and released in January 2020, consists of long-takes stitched together to create a deep sense of immersion. One Rotten Tomatoes audience reviewer offered glowing praise for the blockbuster, writing: “If I were to ever recommend a film to anyone, it would most certainly be this every time.
“This film is gut wrenchingly sad, and equally horrifying, though the story is pulled together beautifully,” they added. “It is a splendidly poetic, cinematic masterpiece, and words simply cannot describe how brilliant it is.”
Another reviewer gave it five stars saying: “Not a single moment wasted with incredible direction and vision from Sam Mendes and Rodger Deakins, paired with a god teir score from Thomas Newman makes this an unforgettable, emotional and powerful journey that deserves multiple revisits beyond the first viewing.”
A third said: “Incredibly made film. Not a dull moment in the entire movie. Very emotional ending.”
However, one said while it is a “good movie”, it’s “not perfect”. “The first half of the movie I would give it 5 stars,” they wrote. “It falls down in the last half of the movie. I found the last half slow and stretched out. Nevertheless the cinematography was fantastic.”
1917 has a 88% “Tomatometer” score on the influential film-review site from 474 reviews.
It wasn’t universally adored, with Richard Brody, a film critic at The New Yorker, describing the film was one of “patriotic bombast” with “an imagination-free script filled with melodramatic coincidences that trivialize the life-and-death action”.
However, the film was broadly praised by critics, winning plaudits for its brutal depiction of trench warfare, storytelling, and the moving friendship the two Tommies share on screen.
It received 10 nominations at the 92nd Academy Awards, winning three gongs for its cinematography, sound mixing, and visual Effects.
1917 is available to stream on Netflix now.