I have wanted to hang out with the cool kids, Darren and Sarah, doing their Film Fridays but it is a rare day when I watch a movie. Normally, I watch British panel shows or standup bits and specials.
The last movie I watched before 1917 was months ago, and it was Grease because the BF had never seen it! We were grooving out to the Bee Gees, which I’m convinced is the best music to listen to at the gym, when the movie came up. I’m surprised his artsy-artsy ass agreed to it. (Love you, dear!)
Anyway, I’ve been wanting to watch 1917 ever since it got good reviews (as the movie trailer did not sell it to me), and this week I finally did it because my life has become filled with simply too much reading. I know! How is this possible, you say? But truly, I now read all day, and while it is a passion, I am only human (well, that’s what the Mothership tells me to say).
And as a homo sapien, I need treats and rest in the form of moving pictures. Enter 1917. So, so good. One of the top war movies ever. Visually beautiful. Sam Mendes co-wrote (with Krysty Wilson-Cairns) and directed this one-shot juggernaut of a film.
I almost regret showing this video, not because it isn’t great, but because if you haven’t seen it, I want you to be surprised by how stunning it is. The colors, the set, the nature, and yes, that one-shot camera work does make you feel like you are there.
At times I felt like I was playing a first-person shooter video game, too. But it also felt like a horror film because I didn’t know what was going to happen next. And the cast…
You could argue that Andrew Scott (not pictured), Richard Madden, Colin Firth, Mark Strong, and Benedict Cumberbatch were a distraction because of their fame, but I would argue that it was enjoyable seeing them in these roles.
The movie also follows Joseph Campbell’s A Hero’s Journey framework found in myths, legends, and great stories from around the world. This, no doubt, has launched the movie into a timeless tale of men trying to do the impossible for a greater good.
What did you think? Did you see 1917?
Life, the Universe, and Lani 
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