1917 (2019)

Cast includes:
CHARACTER	ACTOR/ACTRESS	RATING
Lance Corporal William Schfield	George MacKay	½
Lance Corporal Tom Blake	Dean-Charles Chapman	½
Captain Smith	Mark Strong
Lieutenant Leslie	Andrew Scott
Lieutenant Joseph Blake	Richard Madden
Lauri	Claire Duburcq
General Erinmore	Colin Firth
Colonel Mackenzie	Benedict Cumberbatch
Sergeant Sanders	Daniel Mays
Major Hepburn	Adrian Scarborough

Review

With its breathtaking narrative style and amazing camerawork, 1917 takes us on a spine-tingling journey across occupied rural France together with two British soldiers towards the end of the First World War. Director Sam Mendes utilizes a first-person perspective, not unlike the one often used in computer games, which gives these two messengers' story an incredible intensity and urgency. It's as if we're experiencing WWI ourselves, both the tactics and bravery, but also the brutality, randomness, and not least meaninglessness of this unprecedentedly bloody war. The story itself is a simple one, which makes Mendes' ingenious, flawless direction even more meritable. Strong performances by the two young leads add to the emotional effect.