Schlopsi’s review published on Letterboxd:
Yes, it has some plot flaws (i.e. why tf do they run straight up without any cover through enemy territory - all the time), but thanks to Deakins' excellent camera work and Thomas Newmans calm soundtrack, 1917 kept me captivated until the bitter end.
I've read, the "one-take"-attempt didn't work out for some people and they experienced rather some struggles keeping the immersion up because they where looking more closely for the hidden cuts - and I can understand that to a certain degree (I did the same but it didn't bother me at all). BUT the biggest impact this technique had on me: It kept the whole narrative calm and continuous. The passing of time didn't feel rushed, there's barely been any hectic at all - even in the rare action sequences, which was the real deal for me. It kept me in the story and I didn't realize how fast those two hours of runtime went. Yes, it could've been going on for another hour without me sensing any of that.
Despite all the good and bad things about the movie, there's one more problem touching recent war movies in general: They feel super sterile. There were several attempts to strike the audience with the cruelty of war - especially the wet and dirty trench warfare of WWI. Some of those were right in your face, some more on a side note and yes, they were super uncomfortable to look at - yet the camera itself keeps everything so clean and dry, which is the only thing keeping me from getting soaked into the scenery completely. It is a real pity and a problem for modern war movies in general.
And yet 1917 felt like being on a mission with an unpredictable end. And that's the best thing about it.