A film hailed as ‘one of the greatest war movies of all time’ and a three-time Oscar winner will be aired for free on TV tonight.
The World War One masterpiece, 1917, is set to be broadcast on BBC Three and its HD channel this Saturday (January 4) at 9pm. The film was co-written and directed by Sam Mendes, marking his cinematic follow-up to the Daniel Craig-led James Bond films Skyfall and Spectre.
Those who miss the television airing can stream it on Netflix, provided they have a subscription. First released in 2019, the film was warmly received by critics and moviegoers alike. It scored an impressive 88% on Rotten Tomatoes, with reviewers lauding the film’s technical prowess, including the use of intricately choreographed moving camera shots that created the illusion of a much longer shot.
Many critics likened the film’s portrayal of a single shot or take to Alfred Hitchcock’s Rope or Birdman, although there is actually one cut to black partway through the film when a character loses consciousness. The star-studded cast includes Colin Firth, Benedict Cumberbatch, Mark Strong and Andrew Scott, reports the Mirror.
This innovative camerawork earned legendary cinematographer Roger Deakins his second Oscar, following his win for Blade Runner 2049 two years prior and nominations for his work on The Shawshank Redemption, No Country For Old Men and Skyfall, among others. This was one of the film’s three wins at the Academy Awards out of ten nominations.
While all the characters in 1917 are fictional, the film’s plot is inspired by true events. It centres around Operation Alberich, which was the German army’s strategic retreat to the fortified Hindenburg Line between February 9 and March 20, 1917.
The narrative follows two British soldiers, Lance Cpl. Schofield and Lance Cpl. Blake, who are tasked with a daunting mission. They must navigate through hostile territory to deliver a crucial message that has the potential to save the lives of 1,600 men, including Blake’s own brother.
Since hitting the screens, 1917 has been lauded as a standout war movie, drawing comparisons to other iconic films in the genre. A fan expressed their admiration online, stating: “This film is a phenomenon, and possibly one of the best (if not the best) films I have ever seen. People had said to me before I had watched it’s the next Saving Private Ryan and I was worried it wasn’t going to live up to the hype, but I needn’t have been concerned at all. There aren’t many films that have you gripped two minutes into the first scene, but this film had my undivided attention from beginning to end.”
One satisfied viewer expressed admiration on Rotten Tomatoes, saying: “1917 is one of the greatest war movies of all time. The premise of the movie is amazing, the movie is visually mind blowing, it takes a different approach then any other war movie, and don’t even get me started on the cinema photography of this masterpiece. Totally worth watching if you’re a fan of war movies.”
Echoing the sentiment, another remarked: “This epic war drama is a masterclass in filmmaking, showcasing incredible attention to detail and a remarkable level of craftsmanship.” And yet another concurred: “One of the few WW1 films done very very well. This film really captures the trauma and intensity of the first world war. The FX and clever way it was all shot are to be marvelled.”
1917 is on BBC Three at 9pm, Saturday January 4 and streaming on Netflix