Sorry for not posting more often, but for the most part there's not been a ton to report. But having just returned from the theaters, I feel moved to expound my views upon the masses.....or the 3 people who might actually read this.

1917 is the reason why movies exist. I mean, the physical act of going into a darkened theater, watching a giant screen, and losing yourself for 2 hours. Movies like this just won't have the same impact at home, with the lights on, where you feel SAFE.

The plot is as simple as can be - 2 soldiers are tasked with delivering a message to troops behind enemy lines to avoid a trap set by the Germans. One soldier in particular is chosen because his brother is part of said troops. And for the final element, the whole movie is filmed to look like one continual shot. What comes off as a gimmick in movies like Hardcore Harry instead places you as a silent partner of these 2 as you make your way with them, racing the clock with lives on the line. This is where being in the theater is a HUGE plus, it puts you into the middle of the story with them. It's very easy to lose yourself in the moment, and that is a sign of a truly great film.

There are big names in here (Andrew Scott and Benedict Cumberbatch to name 2), but they are merely transitory as the story laser-focuses on the 2 young (extremely well acted) heroes. The score knows exactly when to build tension, when to fade into the background, and when to let loose to full triumphant glory. The cinematography is just as exquisite, contrasting the horrors of trench warfare with the beauty of unspoiled patches of countryside. Magnificent desolation is a term coined to refer to the moon's surface, but it could also just as well apply to this film as well.

All in all, I strongly recommend seeing this film in theaters if you get a chance to. I don't think anyone reading this will regret the decision.