1917 is wonderfully shot but poorly written. Each of the approximately 9-minute segments is neatly interwoven into the next, but it's not enough.

First, 1917 is more of a bad thriller than a good drama. Early jump-scares keep you on your toes, but predicting the next jump-scare becomes more important than the story itself because there is little story to begin with. Surprisingly; it is only when the lead characters are being shot at that you feel they are safe.

Second, the film does not find balance. Cliché writing gives the impression that things conveniently "work out," while body-strewn battlefields contradict that impression. The result is a feeling of being caught in the crossfire between idealism and realism. I left feeling like I had dipped my toes in two pools without diving into either.