When it comes to movies about the two world wars, World War II is clearly the favorite subject. Every year it seems a number of films come out about “The Big One,” but its predecessor hardly ever gets any attention from Hollywood. Director Sam Mendes (Skyfall) is looking to change that with his new WWI film 1917, which has just released its first trailer.
The movie looks, more or less, like the Dunkirk of WWI. And sure enough, Mendes has teamed with that film’s editor Lee Smith, along with his frequent collaborator, cinematographer Roger Deakins (Blade Runner 2049). The WWI film also boasts a pretty stellar cast including Benedict Cumberbatch, Mark Strong, Richard Madden, and Colin Firth. Here’s the official synopsis:
At the height of the First World War, two young British soldiers, Schofield (George MacKay) and Blake (Dean-Charles Chapman) are given a seemingly impossible mission. In a race against time, they must cross enemy territory and deliver a message that will stop a deadly attack on hundreds of soldiers — Blake’s own brother among them.
The addition of the race against the clock is an interesting one for a war movie, and the trailer certainly does a great job of selling just how suspenseful the plot is going to be. Another thing the trailer does well is showcase both the film’s horror and its beauty. Like Dunkirk before it, it really looks like 1917 will make the audience feel like they’re actually on the battlefield — when they’re not distracted by the amazing cinematography, that is.
It’s good to see the film industry finally giving WWI the attention it deserves, even if it is over 100 years later. 1917 will arrive in theaters this Christmas.
