Movie Monday: 1917

Movie Monday: 1917

 

Sometimes it isn’t about the story, but the way you tell it. Film as a medium offers a platform of uniqueness in that the visual medium its tales are presented through can be told in various ways. This all has to do with the script, story direction, acting, and many other important aspects of creating in the visual field. Cinematography, however, can also be a make-or-break aspect of a movie, especially if said movie retreads ideas that have been seen in media time and again. Sam Mendes’ 2019 film 1917 is one of those films, taking place during World War I and establishing a race-against-time plot in order to stop a British attack against enemy German forces that recent intel has determined will be met with major artillery and will lead to countless lives lost. Two soldiers in the British army—William Schofield and Thomas Blake—are tasked with taking this new information to the front lines in order to halt the attack before it can begin, thus saving the lives of thousands of soldiers, including Blake’s brother Joseph.

 

The story itself is standard, implementing a dangerous time crunch that the characters must battle against in order to make it to the front lines in time. There are twists, turns, and shocking things that happen throughout that make the film difficult to watch. Yet, for the most part, the plot is typical. The same goes for characterization. While you manage to feel the human element of who Schofield and Blake are, they more so represent the everyman instead of unique heroes. Which does work for the film; as an audience member, I found myself caring for Schofield and Blake’s plights as the trials they found on the road to the front lines grew ever more difficult to manage. There’s a subtlety to their development and interactions that says more than words ever could. As a whole, 1917’s story and characters are done well. Yet when compared to the rest of cinema and other war films that exist, neither attribute of the film is special. It’s well-done, yes. But it isn’t something we as an audience can’t find in dozens of other movies, done just as well, if not better.

 

Because what makes 1917 stand out as an incredible film isn’t the plot, nor is it the standard aspects of characterization associated with it. 1917 is memorable because of the way it’s presented. The whole film is made to look like one continuous shot. There are no cutaways to other character’s faces; instead the camera slowly pans as a conversation is happening. When the protagonists are forced into dangerous situations where they have to act slow and cautious, the camera follows them the whole way through, amplifying tension in these scenes. While Schofield and Blake are everymen with character traits one could ascribe to any war film hero, it’s the feeling of being with them on their journey that keeps you connected to who they are as people. This film is masterful in its use of cinematography, and while cinema is no stranger to films presented as a continuous shot, what makes 1917 so impressive is how said cinematography immerses the viewer. When watching the film, I felt like I was on the ground with the characters, watching them struggle in real time. It helps that the set design is magnificent, giving one the feel of being in early 20^th century Europe during a time of war. The special effects also help to corroborate with this presentation of realism, as the film utilizes practical effects instead of anything computer-generated for most of its runtime. These two elements bolster the film, as while plot and characterization may be standard, it doesn’t matter. The presentation of the film more than makes up for it. In fact, I would say the film’s presentation bolsters the average plot and characterization, turning what could have been a standard—probably unmemorable—war movie into an unforgettable experience.

 

1917 is a film that employs fantastic cinematography, wonderfully-crafted sets, and impressive practical effects in order to tell what would otherwise be a standard war story with average characters. It is a great film that uses the visual medium of its storytelling to its advantage, indicating the script is not the only thing a movie can use in order to be engaging. Memorable, heart-rending, and all around impressive, it is a milestone in modern cinema and memorable journey through war in the 20^th century.