The movie “1917”, which was nominated for the Acadamcy Award for Best Picture,  is loosely based on a true story from director Sam Mendes’ grandfather. The story takes place during World War I with two British soldiers, Lance Corporal Blake and Lance Corporal Schofield. Based in France, the two are given a mission to cross no man’s land and deliver a message to the British general to cancel a surprise attack on the Germans which will take place at dawn. 

The attention to detail is amazing during this film as Mendes has it shot in one take, by camera men mounting cameras to their heads and running behind, in front and to the sides of the actors, to capture how long the journey is for the two soldiers. Being the audience, you are placed right into the chaos of World War I and experience the impact that a war can bear on people and society. The picture is brilliant throughout the movie as it shifts from ground level to birds eye view, to see every angle of their mission unfold. This is by far a nail-biting movie, watching the characters move from trenches, lay among dead bodies and crawl across the war stricken land will have you on the edge of your seats. Never is there a minute during the movie where something doesn’t fail to surprise the viewer. The sound production throughout “1917” is very unique as well, it ranges from the dramatic, but well timed music to the sounds of war blazing in the background, or even the eerie silence of the main characters maneuvering their way through decaying soldiers on the battlefield.