Big shot 1. With much said about the long continuous shot and me being no expert, I have nothing to add except that it is brilliant and rewarding to watch. Big shot 2. Of good use were the big shots Colin Firth and Benedict Cumberbatch to draw one's attention and even carry one's excitement.

Apart from the two elements, I believe there was not much else to this war movie. Neither gruesomeness nor tragedy seemed effective enough to me. Honestly, when a central character is knocked unconscious from a sniper shot and doesn't die, I am bummed out. Googling tells me there isn't much historical accuracy to the film either. That's too many let-downs, and therefore, a 7-star seems enough.