Aisne 1918, Officer Stanhope is in charge of a group of men, who are in a bunker, awaiting a heavy German attack, only Stanhope's mental health is declining rapidly.
I've grown so accustomed to big budget war films, and there are many I have loved, Journey's End may not match them on special effects or extras or lavish battle scenes, but one thing it does have, is an incredible story.
The story of the mental decline of the leading man, Officer Stanhope, who's trying hard to keep it together in an impossible situation, alcoholism and paraboia. It's almost impossible to put yourself in place if one of those men, and imagine the torment, waiting to be attacked whist in a confined space.
A wonderful mix if characters, from the struggling Hibbert, to the avuncular Osborne, and of course the sarcastic Mason, all I kept thinking of was Baldrick from Blackadder 4, some wonderful, sharp one liners.
What a wonderful cast here, Paul Bettany, Stephen Graham, Toby Jones and many more, all spot on, very sincere performances, characters you can actually believe in.
It's subtle, no heavy accompanying music, no lavish special effects, it relies instead on the art of storytelling. They got the claustrophobia of the trenches spot on, as you watch you almost feel short of oxygen.
I thought this was quite an impressive film.
9/10.
