January 23rd, 2020

From Director, Roger Deak- I mean Sam Mendes, comes 1917, which is quickly becoming a front-runner for Best-Picture at next month's Academy Awards. I say directed by Roger Deakins in jest, but this is clearly his movie from the first frame to the last. The story centers around two soldiers quickly tasked with relaying orders to soldiers in harm's way, although the thousand-plus soldiers are unaware of what they are walking to.

The first hour-plus is establishing the journey both soldiers are undertaking, as well as the sheer enormity and utter against-all-odds aspect that they are both well aware of. No uncharted territory rears its head in 1917, other than the filmmaking technics utilized in the "one-shot" approach. The elephant in the room is the technical aspect and for me, it did not click until about the hour mark when the beauty of Deakins' lenses comes into full focus. Does 1917 break new ground in the war genre: not really. Does 1917 tell a good story, with stylistic choices that create master classes in framing, lighting and cinematography: absolutely. With that, is 1917 the best picture of the year for me: no? 1917 is a good movie, released at the right time and sometimes that is more than enough.

What's for Dinner?
• Pasta with the best sauce you can find. Go local