I saw it last night and it was masterful. One of, if not, the best war films I have EVER seen. It was uncomfortable, brooding, at times downright scary, but in the end heroic.
The story was fantastic too and was told impeccably. Schofield's character is remarkably nuanced. He was a boy, scared, but also brave and committed to his mission. He HAD to complete. Not just to save the men going into the ambush, but because he had made a commitment to Blake.
In the end, my takeaway was that war is madness. It is an unnecessary tragedy for humanity and the fact that young boys are the ones to fight and die. We should always avoid war if it is possible, these wiped out generations are an absolute abomination of humanity.
I'm not World War I buff, but to think 7 million people died because one man was assassinated is ridiculous.
I like WWI history a lot. If you're at all interested, dedicate 12+ hours to listen to Dan Carlin's podcast series Blueprint for Armageddon. It's fantastic.
Also, you’re a few hundred yards from a waterway and every single person is en masse facing the other way. No look outs, no guards, no nothing. Please.
Felt the same way. Beautifully shot. Solid acting. But something in the story was missing. The end sort of fell apart for me...
I want to see it again