sam mendes – Tripping Through Gateways

Honestly, the trailers for 1917 did not really grab me. War movies are not something I tend to get excited for. But then, I saw all the talk from people whose opinions I trust that it is a must see film, and more importantly worth seeing in the theater.

So, this weekend, I finally got the opportunity to sit down and watch the film in my local cineplex. I tried to avoid getting my hopes set too high.

And I tell you this much…the film was amazing to watch. By now, it is pretty well known that it is set up to look like one long and continuous shot, following two young soldiers in World War One given the mission to cross the German front line to warn a general that their planned attack needs to be halted, as it is a trap.

This is how you use a gimmick to tell a story. We stay with soldiers Blake and Schofield as they make their way through the treacherous landscape, which means we never see the dangers or threats until they come upon them.

Blake is more idealistic than Schofield, but both clearly struggle with the weight on their shoulders, the burden of the war.

While the whole film is impressive, the sequence that really blew may away is the night time sequence. Often we only see from the light cast by fires and explosions and flares. This creates a moment of great uncertainty and beauty as the scene brightens and then shadows rush over the landscape.

If you have not seen 1917 yet and it is still at your local theater? Check it out. It is worth seeing in the theater.

I confess, I was not waiting as anxiously for this film. Craig has gone out of his way to show a real lack of enthusiasm for the role. And yeah, some of the criticisms are very accurate, though I felt they were doing a better job as toning those things down and moving towards eliminating them.

Casino Royal was a game changer for the franchise that revitalized the series. Craig was seen as one of the best Bonds. Folks were excited for the next film…and then came Quantum of Solace. And enthusiasm dampened. Then they announced Sam Mendes as director for Skyfall. And people started getting excited again. Javier Bardem was announced as the villain and people got a bit more excited (but nervous when they saw his hairstyle). And Skyfall came out. And enthusiasm again dampened.

I did not hate Quantum of Solace or Skyfall. They were okay, and far from the worst the franchise has offered. but they focused to much on villains that were never that interesting with back stories so tied to bond, they felt like they lacked the bigger motives. gone are the notions of Bond discovering a plan and being the fly in the ointment, he became their focus.

Any hope that Spectre would turn things around (and end Craig’s run on a high note) were dashed. It is simply enjoyable. It has some great action sequences, and M’s heavier involvement in the resolution of the film (in spite of the film relying yet again on the notion of Bond being cut off and on his own) works well. Same with making Q and Moneypenny heavier hitters, so to speak.

Yet, often, when the film gets talky, it gets immensely boring and never feels like it advances the story. Wit and wordplay are part of the history of Bond, yet Spectre lacks any of it. Craig’s Bond may be less of a misogynist, but he is also plenty dreary.

The film has decided the relationship between Blofeld and Bond needs to be intensely personal. There is no need for this, and wastes a great actor like Christophe Waltz on a rather uninspired take on the villain. The organization of Spectre lacks any ominous threat.

That said, the action sequences are solid and exciting. And I really liked the opening credits sequence. But if this is Craig’s last outing as Bond? It does not end on a high note.

Tag: sam mendes

The Continuous Horror of War (1917, 2019)

Bond’s Childhood Issues (Spectre, 2015)