Director – Saul Dibb
Starring – Sam Claflin; Asa Butterfield; Paul Bettany; Toby Jones; Stephen Graham; Tom Sturridge.
Running Time – 107 minutes (1 hour 47 minutes)
★★★★✩
 |
| IMAGE VIA LIONSGATE |
UPDATED - FRIDAY 2ND FEBRUARY
Set in March 1918, C-company arrives to take their turn at the front-line trenches in Northern France led by the war-weary Captain Stanhope (Clafin). A German offensive imminent and his officers (Bettany, Graham, Sturridge) with their cook (Jones) distract themselves in the dugout with a talk of food and past lives. Stanhope, meanwhile, soaks his fear in whiskey, unable to deal with his dread of the inevitable. They’re joined by a new officer, Raleigh (Butterfield) fresh out of training and excited for his first real posting. Each man is trapped, the days ticking by, the tension rising with the attack drawing closer.
 |
| IMAGE. VIA LIONSGATE |
I was able to catch an early showing of this brilliant war movie at the London Film Festival last year, but after seeing four British war films (Their Finest, Wonder Woman, Dunkirk, and now Journey's End) they all begin to feel the same.
The only difference with Journey's End is that it has a brilliant script and the superb cast as you'll find yourself investing in these characters.
The standout is Sam Claflin, who’s clearly someone who's suffering from PTSD and dealing with it by becoming an alcoholic and there's Paul Bettany who brings balance as a calm older officer.
 |
| IMAGE VIA LIONSGATE |
One of the film's strengths is the well-balanced cast Bettany (calm elder), Claflin (struggling Captain), Asa Butterfield (young, slightly neve Lieutenant), Stephen Graham (just managing officer) and Tom Sturridge (petrified soldier).
 |
| IMAGE VIA LIONSGATE |
The lean screenplay differently benefits from being a stage play first and uses that in the strongest moments in the film when the characters are in the trench talking and when the film nears its conclusion the emotional increases. The added use of Jones' humour helps with the sobering tone.
 |
| IMAGE VIA LIONSGATE |
Director Saul Dibb shows off the hell of the trenches beautifully and impactful especially when you see just the boots walking through the mud.
It was a shame Claflin or Bettany weren't nominated for a BAFTA for lead and supporting actor respectively.
 |
| IMAGE VIA LIONSGATE |
Verdict
A superbly acted and written World War One story.
No comments:
Post a Comment