'Masterpiece' that's 'the most powerful WW1 film ever made' is available on Amazon Prime

A "masterpiece" dubbed one of the "most powerful World War 1 films ever made" is now available to watch on Amazon Prime. 1917 is a 2019 British war film directed and produced by Sam Mendes, who co-wrote it with Krysty Wilson-Cairns.

It is partially inspired by stories told to Mendes by his paternal grandfather, Alfred, about his service during World War I. The film takes place after the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line during Operation Alberich, and follows two British soldiers in their mission to deliver an important message to call off a doomed offensive attack.

The two main roles are played by George MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapman. Mark Strong, Andrew Scott, Richard Madden, Colin Firth, and Benedict Cumberbatch also star in supporting roles. Collidercalled it one of the "masterpieces" of the last decade, alongside Babylon, Killers of the Flower Moon, and Dune: Part Two. It was also included on Cineworld'slist of "the most powerful World War I movies ever made", alongside Paths of Glory, War Horse, and A Very Long Engagement.

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 88% based on 472 reviews, with an average rating of 8.4 out of 10. The website's critical consensus reads: "Hard-hitting, immersive, and an impressive technical achievement, 1917 captures the trench warfare of World War I with raw, startling immediacy."

Metacritic assigned the film a weighted average score of 78 out of 100 based on 57 critics, indicating "generally favourable" reviews.

Meilan Solly of the Smithsonian Institute said: "The film has more than fulfilled this goal (elevate World War I cinema to a previously unseen level of visibility), wowing audiences with both its stunning visuals and portrayal of an oft-overlooked chapter of military lore".

1917 received 10 nominations at the 92nd Academy Awards, winning for Best Cinematography, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Visual Effects.

It also got nine nominations at the 73rd BAFTAs, winning the most awards - seven, including Best Film, Best Director and Outstanding British Film.

The film received three nominations at the 77th Golden Globe Awards, winning for Best Motion Picture - Drama and Best Director, and eight at the 25th Critics' Choice Awards, winning Best Director, Best Editing, and Best Cinematography.