Blitz movie review

MOVIE TITLE: Blitz

This compelling period drama about WWII is now available on Apple TV+ and for purchase on other Video On Demand platforms.

RATING: PG-13

LENGTH: 2 hours 0 minutes

MOVIE REVIEW MOM GRADE: B

IN A NUTSHELL:

The movie is about the German blitz over London a year into WWII. It features stories of a group of Londoners trying to evacuate to safety. The focus is on a single mother and her young son who get separated.

The film was directed, produced, and written by Sir Steve McQueen (not the famous American actor from the 1960s and 70s). Already, the movie has been nominated and won several awards by various film festivals. His 2013 movie 12 Years A Slave won Best Picture in 2013.

I love World War II movies, so I was excited to watch this. I’m finally just now posting my review.

THINGS I LIKED:

Saoirse Ronan’s presence on the movie poster was what made me immediately want to watch this movie. She’s terrific in everything she does and will probably be nominated for another Academy Award. She does accents so well and is always believable in her roles. We even get to hear her sing in this! She recorded the song she sings in Abbey Road’s Studio Three, the same studio the Beatles used to record the albums “Rubber Soul” and “Revolver”!
Paul Weller does a great job, although he’s not in nearly enough scenes. Other standout cast members include Leigh Gill, Harris Dickinson, Stephen Graham, and Hayley Squires. The young boy was played by Elliott Heffernan.
I can’t even imagine what these British families went through during the war, especially the moms who had to send their children away for YEARS! Some of the children were gone from 1939 until 1946! The children’s evacuation to safety was called “Operation Pied Piper” and the largest mass migration in British history!
The movie opens with an exciting scene of buildings in blazes, while the firefighters desperately try to save them and the people racing around in panic. Some of the imagery of destruction and survival is simply astounding.
The musical score by Hans Zimmer is lovely. Of course it is! It’s Hans Zimmer! It was sweet to see the powerful influence music had on so many of the characters.
Some of the special effects were impressive, especially the aerial shots.
The physical effects were extremely good too, especially the bombed-out neighborhoods, and the flooding subway scene. Yikes! So scary!
Beautiful cinematography by Yorick Le Saux.
I appreciate the attention to details, such as when some of the women drew stocking lines on their legs to look fashionable or when a woman flashed the V for Victory sign at someone.
The emotions of the characters bubble over in a variety of ways.
We see examples of both kindness to strangers and how evil people tried to take advantage of others.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

The story is presented with a non-linear technique, which can often confuse viewers.
Some of the villains felt cartoonish.
The focus of the film shifts from the Blitz to racism to a coming-of-age tale. Ultimately, I wasn’t sure what the director most wanted to say.