1917 May be the Best Film Ever Made
1917 is possibly the best picture I’ve ever watched. It’s at least the best film I’ve seen over the last decade. I can’t imagine how it could ever be passed over for Best Picture of 2019. The movie has won every awards ceremony to date.
Having Monday as a day off from work, I went to the 11 o’clock matinee at Magic Valley Cinema. I had a seat center theater. The big screen experience captures the scenery in a way TV wouldn’t do justice. The sweep of a city ablaze, carnage of “No Man’s Land” and trenches are as much characters as the soldiers being played by actors.
It’s a film about friendship, loyalty and duty.
The action is edited to look like one continuous shot. As a viewer you feel as if you’re along for the mission.
Some early reviews labelled 1917 an anti-war story. I disagree. It’s a film about friendship, loyalty and duty. If you’ve not yet caught a viewing, I won’t try and spoil your day, however. It’s a bittersweet tale and we’re left wondering at the end about the unlikely hero. Where does he go after completion of a mission he never wanted? Does he make it home to his family? Does he receive another medal?
There’s a hint during the picture that he was awarded the Victoria Cross for his service in a previous battle. The equivalent of our Medal of Honor.
World War One is underrepresented when it comes to movies. It was a horrific event and didn’t have the moral clarity of defeating Adolf Hitler a generation later. 1917 is a memorial due for more than a century.