One of the most consistent and enduring themes pervading Sam Mendes’ body of work is humanity. His directorial debut, American Beauty (1999) gave us a snapshot into the angst of modern suburbia, and his contributions to the James Bond franchise with Skyfall (2012) and Spectre (2015) captured a special kind of vulnerability in one of the most iconic embodiments of male escapist fantasy.

With 1917, Sam Mendes has not only crafted one of the finest films of his career, but one of the most immersive and unique war films in recent years. The premise of 1917 is elegantly simple, yet intriguing and ambitious in execution. Taking place over a single day during WW1, two young British soldiers (George Mackay and Dean-Charles Chapman) are tasked with the unenviable job of delivering a message to a battalion on the precipice of enemy engagement. Without this warning reaching the troops, it is certain that the battalion will walk into a trap resulting in mass casualties. 

What separates this modernist take from other war cinema is how it manages to deeply immerse us in every aspect and detail of the war zone. Our perspective, right from the film’s opening shot, never leaves the side of the two British soldiers, and every moment of stillness, terror and triumph is captured and contained in a single shot not unlike how Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s Birdman (2014) managed to immerse us in the warped world of Riggen Thomson. There are no cuts. The result is not just astoundingly impressive, but incredibly captivating. 

Thinking about all the production elements at play in 1917, there is so much that could have gone wrong, but like some kind of miracle, Mendes, along with his cast and crew, have triumphed in creating something truly special. By restricting our perception of the war zone to just two characters, the battleground feels ominous and expansive, and the encounters with the soldiers and civilians along the way are deeply compelling, even if just for a brief moment. Actors Mackay and Chapman are immediately likable, sympathetic and complex as the two respective soldiers, while Colin Firth and Benedict Cumberbatch revel as supporting players, masterfully portraying enigmatic military leaders.

Ultimately, underneath the brilliant stylistic choices and captivating melodrama, 1917 is a touching film about the truly destructive repercussions of war and the trauma that is chaotically and senselessly inflicted.

4.5 out of 5 stars