10 Reasons 1917 Should Win Best Picture At The Oscars 2020

6. The Tone

The film’s tone is interesting. By 1917, those in the war had been fighting for nearly three years, causing the soldiers to become somewhat detached from the horrors they experienced on a daily basis. A tone of normality is not commonly depicted in war films, but is reflected clearly in 1917, giving it a unique perspective through emotional accuracy.

This tone is achieved partly through the constantly moving camera. The film almost skates over the horrors present in the film, be it dead bodies or horrific injuries. In doing so, the audience is constantly reminded that this is not the characters first time seeing such things, and that for a long time, this has been their reality.

This is also reflected in the performances. The prime example being Andrew Scott’s Lieutenant Leslie, who gives greater concern to a flare gun than the two men about to cross no mans land. There is only one instance where a character breaks down and this again, is only for a moment.

By using this tone, the audience’s attention is ultimately drawn to the characters lack of reaction. This highlights the true horrors of war, while not explicitly focusing on them. The creation of such a realistic expression of war through tone, again demonstrates why 1917 truly is the Best Picture.