Quartile rating: 8/10 · 4 ratings
At the height of the First World War, two young British soldiers must cross enemy territory and deliver a message that will stop a deadly attack on hundreds of soldiers.
1917 is defined above all by its extraordinary single-take cinematography — Roger Deakins' work is a genuine landmark, creating immersive, relentless tension through continuous movement. The one-take conceit is also a true novelty, making the war-race-against-time premise feel viscerally immediate and utterly distinctive despite a relatively straightforward story. The plot itself is lean almost to a fault — propulsive but thin on character depth or complexity. Acting is solid, particularly George MacKay, but the screenplay doesn't give the cast much room for nuance. The ending is quietly moving but understated to the point of feeling slightly deflating after such sustained intensity.