MOVIE REVIEW: Journey’s End

World War One drama.  Set in the Allied trenches in 1918 a new group of soldiers has to spend their mandatory 6 days on the front lines.  The rumours are that the German forces are going to make a large attempt to gain ground.  This group knows that this attack is going to happen during their watch and with little to no help from superiors who only care about making a good show of things rather than the human cost, morale is low, and orders are coming in to make things worse.

The last few years we have been given many great films based on the actions during the conflict that World War One presented.  The timely reminder of the horror of war and the stupidity of men who decide to send young boys into action for little to no gains is something that we must never forget.  One Hundred years ago young men, around the age of 16 and up, marched into hell for sake of inches of mud.  Believing that they were dying for a cause that would make them heroes back home they were given orders that made no sense in any tactical mindset.

Journey’s End points out the futile nature of the conflict and also the severe psychological impact that the fighting had on the individual soldiers and the Officers.  Sam Claflin plays the leader of the Soldiers, their Captain, and as he tries to prepare himself and his men for the incoming attack a new Officer is assigned that knows him personally.  This creates more tension in a place where it’s already at boiling point.  As each day leads to the inevitable attack and life in the trenches among the officers and the enlisted men grows unbearable you, as the viewer, are kept on the edge of your seat.

The film feels for the most part like a stage play, which I hear it was, but it doesn’t suffer from that. Although that mostly comes down to the cast.  Paul Bettany plays an Officer who is basically the second in command.  He’s almost in a Jedi state of mind as a performance which counters against the natural tension of the situation.  This gives the role a special kind of feeling and you miss Bettany when he’s not on-screen.  Playing the fresh-faced new officer is Ender’s Game star Asa Butterfield, who is perfect for the role, looking so young and depicting the eagerness and/or the stupidity of the young who believed this was a great exciting adventure.  It’s a good role for him.  The supporting cast has some of the hardest working actors in the business that adds to the gravity of the trenches including Toby Jones, and Stephen Graham, both of whom are their normal steady hands at the wheel.

As the film gently ramps up to the conclusion the losses start to become unbearable for the Officers who remain.  As a film it’s hard to fault, every performer and creative on the other side of the camera do their job well, and should be applauded.  The one thing that will strike the viewer is the heaviness of the film, there are few moments of levity, and it can be a little tough to get through.  Journey’s End is an important educational tool for those studying World War One and heavy-handed entertainment.  Although the heavy hand in this case is something that is needed and expected.

[yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]

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Garth Cremona (RIP)

Comic book creator and movie reviewer. You can find out more at www.dublinwriter.com

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