Much like the young soldiers in the film, director Sam Mendes set out on a seemingly impossible mission: create a feature-length WWI film in a single take.

That’s 119 minutes of real-time conflict and non-stop adrenaline rush, in one take. Not only is 1917’s mere existence already a success, but it’s also one of the most technically proficient, emotionally compelling, and jaw-dropping goliaths of a war film that I’ve ever seen. Set in the desolate trenches behind British lines, 1917 will undeniably rank side by side with some of the best war films of all time.

Often, the individual faces of soldiers are lost amongst a sea of thousands of uniformed troops; 1917 puts a face to two brave young men who were willing to sacrifice all they had to save the lives of others. On April 6th, 1917, Privates Schofield (George MacKay) and Blake (Dean-Charles Chapman) are selected for a potentially deadly mission. They are to deliver a time-sensitive and life-saving message to their neighboring battalion troop of 1,600 men ordering them to cease their scheduled attack against the Germans. The attack, it turns out, would be an ambush, killing the British soldiers, including Private Blake’s older brother. Schofield and Blake only have until dawn the next morning to relay the news, and so begins the race against the clock, the Germans, and the unpredictable roadblocks they’ll encounter along the way.

Fired up with wide-eyed optimism and stone-cold determination, Schofield and Blake need to cross a pan’s labyrinth of battlefield death traps to make it to their destination in time. Overcoming physical and mental roadblocks push the young men to the depths of their grit and not without casualties along the way. It’s said that ‘to live is to make peace with death,’ a poignant reminder that comes full circle as the young men confront their own mortality throughout their heroic efforts.

Technically speaking, 1917 is no doubt a cinematic feat, and the same can be said on screen with much praise belonging to George MacKay. As the lead in what is likely one of the most challenging films of any actor’s career, he carries 1917 with strength and a certain sweetness. His performance is astounding, both physically and emotionally. Dean-Charles Chapman equally commands the screen as a desperate young soldier who will do whatever it takes to help his brother. Andrew “Hot Priest” Scott, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Richard Madden also contribute their talents, rounding out a powerhouse ensemble cast.

What’s equally as impressive as the film itself is the credits, which run almost 10 minutes. The thousands of names that scroll across the screen are a sharp reminder of the amount of work, time, money, and passion that goes into making a film, especially one of this size and caliber. Highlighted in the thousands of names are frequent Mendes-collaborators, including cinematographer Richard Deakins (Skyfall) and composer Thomas Newman (American Beauty). Their contributions to 1917 make the film what it is: unforgettable.

There have been a handful of war films this year, A Hidden Life, Jojo Rabbit, and Midway, all telling specific stories of life on the outskirts or battlefields of their respective wars. While powerful in their own way, nothing holds a candle to the brute force imagery that 1917 pulls off. Based on the audible “wows” from the audience and minutes-long applause as the credits rolled during my press screening, it looks like Mendes and company will be a frontrunner in the battle for Best Picture this awards season.

1917 (2019)

Starring George MacKay, Dean-Charles Chapman

Directed by Sam Mendes

Written by Sam Mendes, Krysty Wilson-Cairns

Distributed by Universal Pictures. 119 minutes.

Opening Friday, December 25th in theaters everywhere.