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Review: 1917

We don't get a lot of war movies these days, at least ones that take place during the last century. And it's been awhile since there's been a flick set in World War 1. The last one I watched was Flyboys...

Ahem.

Now there's Same Mendes's 1917, a film that's garnered a lot of praise for its technical achievements and stirring -- yet simple -- story. In fact, it's now considered the front runner for Best Picture at the Oscars. Is the movie worth the hype? Stick with me!

To make a long story short: this is a riveting one-shot movie that unfolds largely in real time. It's a brilliantly mounted epic that immerses the viewer in the horrors of one of the most brutal conflicts in human history without beating us over the head with a war-is-hell message. The attention to detail is astounding, the plot unpredictable, and the tension barely tolerable. And yes, the cinematography is captivating. The acting? Spot on.

There. How's that for a review? I can't be any more on point than that.

1917 is a hell of a movie. It made me anxious, sad, excited, and I even laughed a little. It's nail-biting stuff, but won't leave you drained, which makes it highly entertaining. I can't say that about a lot of "serious" films, but I can say it about 1917.

Kudos to Mendes, cinematographer Roger Deakins, and stars George McKay and Dean-Charles Chapman. You've crafted a winner here, and one worthy of any recognition it gets. It's a Good, and I look forward to seeing it again.

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