War Horse is an epic drama Directed by Steven Spielberg and is based on the novel by British Author Michael Morpurgo and was published in 1982 and was adapted for the stage production in 2007. The film stars Jeremy Irvine as Albert Narracott, who young boy who is brought up on a Devon Farm with his parents Ted [Peter Mullan] and Rose [Emily Watson], who inherit in a horse that will change their fortune and save the farm from being sold from landlord Lyons [David Thewlis]. As time goes on Albert forms a bond with the horse but fate will test the boundaries of their friendship and their faith.
War Horse is an absolute delight from start to finish and I was hooked all the way through having not read the novel or seen the stage production.
The Good:
Steven Spielberg is my favorite director of all time having created instant classics such as, Jaws, Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark, E.T-The Extra Terrestrial, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Schindler’s List and Jurassic Park. He just keeps on delivering and still proves why he is the greatest director of all time with War Horse, he is such a good storyteller and has a way of drawing mass audience’s in.
The main triumph of War Horse is the cinematography which is by Janusz Kamiński, who has photographed all of Spielberg’s films since 1993’s Schindler’s List. The film is already up for awards including an Oscar and Golden Globe. The film contains excellent choreographed war scenes that are the best done and most realistic since Schindler’s List and capture the horrors of war, including an intense sequence through no-man’s land.
The other main aspect of War Horse that is rewarding is the acting that is carried out by a top notch cast of British Actors, including Eddie Marsan, Sherlock’s Benedict Cumberbatch, Toby kebbell- [RocknRolla, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time] and David Thewlis. It is newcomer Jeremy Irvine, who impresses as Albert and captures the right mix of emotion and intensity and he is the reason why you want to keep watching as World War 1 breaks out it separates Albert and Joey and the more their friendship is tested.
There is a brilliant scene in which Toby Kebbell’s British officer and a German soldier both unite to save Joey who is caught in barbed wire over no-man’s land, the scene it shows humanity, even on the brink of war at its highest as two soldiers, even being enemies on opposite sides, share and laugh and a joke and most of being human.
The Bad:
There is not much a can say about this film that is negative as it contains everything you could want in a film, brilliant acting, intensity, excitement and most of all a great story. It makes you feel you are going on the journey with these characters.
Conclusion:
Overall, War Horse is a film that will have on the edge of your seat and will leave you with lumps in your throat as it is an emotional rollercoaster. I would consider it as a must see, it contains great cinematography, acting and a director at the top of his game. As far as I am concerned this is classic Spielberg.
