Review: ‘1917’ is a technical masterwork and a pretty good movie, too.

1917

1917 tells the story of two young soldiers given a simple but difficult task. A battalion of men are heading into a trap and the only way to contact them is for our two heroes to travel across the no-mans-land of world war one, directly through enemy territory and all the dangers that entail, to hand-deliver a message of warning.

Schofield, the cynic, and Blake, the optimist, are opposites in their disposition and understanding of war. The former, a veteran of battles past, the latter still inexperienced in actual battle. They set off to deliver the message as quickly as possible as Blake’s brother is among the men who will likely die if they don’t accomplish their mission in time.

Filmed to create the illusion that it was completed in a single take, 1917 is in some ways the movie-est movie I’ve seen in a while. In others, it’s the video game-iest. Does it work? Technically, it’s magnificent. In every other way, it’s also pretty good.

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Review: Prisoners

Prisoners

_Ed. Note: I know this is really late, but I’m on holiday!_

You’ve already [seen the trailer](https://awesomefriday.ca/2013/06/prisoners-trailer-hugh-jackman-goes-crazy/) for Prisoners so you already know the basic set up. Hugh Jackman and Maria Bello are best friends with Terrance Howard and Viola Davis On thanksgiving they share the evening together and the couples youngest children go outside to find a lost toy and never return. Paul Dano plays a simpleton named Alex who is the best suspect and is arrested by Jake Gyllenhaal but it quickly turns out that Alex doesn’t have the faculties to have committed such a crime and is released. Angry, desperate and searching for answers, Hugh Jackman kidnaps Paul Dano and proceeds to torture him for answers.

Turns out though that there is more going on. I’m going to talk in more detail after the jump and while I’m not going to directly spoil anything this _is_ a mystery story so talking about it will give you clues. If you want to skip the review and know what I think? Yes, go see it. It’s good. It’s not perfect but it’s well thought out and incredibly well acted and beautifully shot. Details after the jump.

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Prisoners Trailer: Hugh Jackman Goes Crazy

Prisoners

I feel like I’ve seen this movie before. Two children are missing and the desperate father will do anything to get them back.

However, Denis Villeneuve is a talented director (and Canadian!) and he’s made some pretty great films most of which tackle some pretty difficult subject matter (see: Incendies or Polytechnique).

He’s also managed to round up Hugh Jackman, Maria Bello, Terrance Howard, Viola Davis, Jake Gyllenhaal, Paul Dano and Melissa Leo, a pretty all star cast of award winners and nominees.

Let’s watch!

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