MOVIE REVIEW: 1917

I took in a matinee of “1917” recently and was so impressed that right out of the gate in 2020 I am making bold OSCAR predictions for next year... even before the upcoming OSCAR awards for 2019 ! I predict that “1917” will be nominated for 'Best Picture' and 'Best Director' Oscars and, perhaps, a slew of lesser nominations. However, I also boldly predict that '1917' will WIN an Oscar for Best Cinematography!

Last year notable New Zealand film-maker and director, Peter Jackson, turned out an excellent documentary on World War One based on his grandfather's recollections and the digital refurbishing of many old photographs and newspaper accounts. No movies available back then!

Director, Sam Mendes, who also had a grandfather veteran of World War One with many vivid recollections, now presents us with a riveting account of one significant day in that bloody, meat-grinder conflict based on a true incident. Mendes co-wrote the script which no doubt incorporates many florid details drawn from his grandfather's stories. And since Mendes is a proven director of box office hits, (he directed the last two James Bond films) I presume he had no problem getting the $95 million funding it took to produce this classic war movie.

However, it's not the lavish attention to CGI enhanced nitty-gritty detail that blew my mind on this movie. It's the way it was filmed! Roger Deakins has frequently been nominated for best cinematographer, and WON that Oscar in 2018 for 'Blade Runner: 2049'. Well, Roger, I think you've got another winner coming next year!

I'm sure you all can remember movies from the past that incorporate unusually long, unbroken scenes that went on for minutes where the camera tracks the character(s) through convoluted paths going in and out of buildings, rooms, etc. The movie, “Goodfellas” comes to mind where Scorsese had his camera follow Ray Liota and some of his 'wise guy' pals through a restaurant.

That's the technique Mendes and Deakins apply... throughout a two-hour movie! But in this case it starts serenely in an open countryside and slowly picks up the pace as the two main characters get summoned into the trenches. From there it's kinda like Ravel's Bolero. The tension and action just keep building... and building... and BUILDING!

At the end I, for one, was awestruck!