1917

1917 is Sam Mendes' epic war drama shot to appear as one unbroken take. In fact, there's only one deliberate cut to black. And who do you call for such a monumental task? Yes, the master of cinematography - Roger Deakins!

While it is easy to tell where the cuts were discontinued, for example, during moving objects or in dark chambers, the achievement done here is something you only see once in a century! 1917's plot is about a couple of young soldiers sent on a mission to deliver an important message to another troop of allies. As soon as the stakes and time limit is clearly established, we tag along their journey. The one-take purpose here is to throw you into the warzone they're in and force you to be part of it from start to finish. Admittedly, there are nonevents of long walks in the beginning, but the moment the soldiers leave their haven and tread towards the opposition's front line, you're hooked as the experience becomes seamless!

Roger Deakins camera is everything here! Only he knows how he managed to maintain all the lighting, angles and focus at a consistent tone throughout! At times, it gives the feeling as if you are playing a video game, following these characters from their back or latching onto their shoulders. There's even an impossible shot among many here, where the camera continues tracking our protagonist falling into a river and landing onshore, all linked without any cuts! There's a reason why we call Roger Deakins a magician, ladies and gentlemen! Coupled with the impressive large sets erected involving practical effects of corpses and varying set pieces such as the forest, river, burning cathedral city, farm and rescuers camp to name a few, never a moment will your eyes be tired, although it must be mentioned that some of the visual effects green screen background is obvious. Thomas Newman's fantastic swelling score will stir complete goosebumps, especially when Schofield (George MacKay) sprints across a battlefield during the climax! Sound design for the explosions and nature strolls has the quality you can't find another match for!

The screenwriters definitely enhanced the show with arresting sequences full of hurdles such as the fighter plane crashing into barn, pushing stuck truck, rat setting off a trip wire that collapses a bunker and protagonist chased by a distant figure, evading gunshots plus strangling an enemy soldier as silently as he could! It's unexpected that his friend Tom (Dean-Charles Chapman) would actually die in an extremely pitiful situation. This event heightens the tension, as the hero's responsibility to deliver the intended message to Tom's brother just got heavier… because it is personal now! Lastly, the adjustment of pacing is beautiful with perfect alternating moments of urgency and solitude!