What a thrill it was to see my favorite film of 2019, 1917, win Best Picture and director honors at The Golden Globes Sunday…
But how could that be? The movie hasn’t even opened here yet!
Permit me to explain.
“1917” was pre-screened for area critics in late November and voted best movie, director and cinematography by Kansas City’s Film Critics Circle on December 15th. Honors for the film haven’t stopped since. It finally opened in a handful of major markets on Christmas Day.
The good news: Now YOU will be able to experience director Sam Mendes’ most ambitious production beginning THIS weekend. And if there ever was a motion picture made to be seen solely on the big screen, this one is it!
“1917” is a World War I movie of epic proportions—it’s also a very personal story as handled to Mendes (‘American Beauty’, ‘Spectre’) by his paternal grandfather.
This is the seemingly impossible story of two young soldiers (George MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapman) sent through dangerous enemy territory to forewarn a a British battalion of a pending German ambush. A gut-wrenching journey against all odds.
What makes “1917” so special is the way director Mendes tells it!
Not only does he present it all in real time, he filmed the ENTIRE movie in one continuous shot.
No cutaways. No edits. CONTINUOUS!
Why did he make it in this most difficult process?
“My idea was two hours of real time and no cuts.
Nothing between the audience and the characters….you’ll also experience distance and difficulty with the men and there’s no way out,” Mendes said.”
The results is that viewers becomes totally absorbed in the action.
You immerse yourself INTO the film unlike anything you have experienced before.
“1917” co-stars Colin Firth and Benedict Cumberbatch and opens wide this weekend.
My grade: A—and not to be missed on a giant movie screen!
It looks great!
I still can’t see how they could possibly shoot the entire thing nonstop…
More specifics? Jack?
There is an interesting featurette on the making and cinematography of the film available on YouTube!
Grazie mille!
All due respect, Jack, it’s not one continuous take. It *looks* like one continuous take. The film features long sequences, clever wipes and “hidden” cuts.
“One continuous shot,” yes. That one shot, all done in one take, no.
Yes, the movie is an amazing achievement, but it wasn’t shot in one take. 🙂
Here’s a link where DP Deakins explaining about long takes, camera tricks to hide cuts, and how they hoped they got the long scenes right. “You’re doing a long extended take, the longest takes were probably eight-and-a-half minutes, you’re doing tricky camera things and the guys are doing their performance and everything’s got to be in sync because it’s all a ballet”
https://ew.com/comic-con/2019/10/03/1917-cast-creators-explain-one-continuous-shot-trailer/