Not to be too morbid, but a movie about World War I hitting just as World War III seems depressingly likely is, uh, a lot to handle. But perhaps if more people go see 1917 now that it’s playing in more theaters we can make sure not to repeat the global military mistakes of the past. Hopefully. Maybe.
Watch these movies before 1917
Skyfall
We already have plenty of faith that Sam Mendes can handle big action because he directed arguably the best Bond movie of Daniel’s Craig’s impressive era. Skyfall is thrilling, beautiful, funny, nostalgic, and shockingly dense thematically when it comes to the legendary 007. Sure Spectre wasn’t so great despite reuniting much of the same creative team. But Roger Deakins teaming up with Mendes again in 1917 should at least give us another gorgeous movie to look at.
Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman’s first contact with man’s world typically happens during World War II. But Patty Jenkins’ movie shifted this to World War I. Cynically, this might have been to avoid direct Captain America comparisons. But really the sheer unprecedented chaos of World War I is a better lens through which to view the idea that all violent conflict is bad, not the clear good and bad guys of WWII.
They Shall Not Grow Old
Finally free of bad Hobbit movies, Peter Jackson used his tremendous technical film-making skill to archive, preserve, restore, and recreate real WWI documentary footage in They Shall Not Grow Old, an ode to Jackson’s veteran grandfather. The result is stunning, the closest cinema has come to being an actual time machine.
Russian Ark
1917’s big gimmick is that the whole movie is shot as one continuous take, really putting the viewer in the trenches. The soldiers never got a break so why should the viewer. Plenty of movies have impressive sequences all filmed as one take. But for another example of an entire film shot in this demanding style check out the experimental historical drama Russian Ark.
Wings
Released in 1927, Wings was the very first Best Picture winner at the Academy Awards. Its acclaimed and highly technical World War I aerial dog-fighting sequences influenced future historical war films as well as stuff as recent at Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
Hardcore Henry
If you want to see an immersive single-take action movie a bit less somber than 1917, check out Hardcore Henry. This movie fully dives into the video game nature of its presentation, a first-person romp as crazy as any shooter you can pick up for PC or console. Russian Dash Cams: The Movie. Plus Sharlto Copley is pretty good in this.
American Beauty
Before his surprising move to blockbusters, Sam Mendes was known for his intimate dramas like American Beauty. This one might be a little bit tough to go back to, between its 90s pre-9/11 bored contentment, leering gaze at teenage girls, and large amounts of cursed Kevin Spacey energy. But it is an important piece of Mendes film history. Plus that plastic bag floating in the wind is pretty dope.
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