A previous film version of the storied 1929 German anti-war novel 'All Quite on the Western Front' won the Academy Award for best picture back in 1930; the new film adaption by director Edward Berger is the first German made movie version of the book (though Netflix's cut is heavily dubbed) and is up for the same award as it predecessor. My viewing of the film was not helped by watching it on a small screen over a series of days, it really should be seen on the big screen, a gory spectical of mud and blood.
The film has some compelling visuals, one which stood out to me and which I don't recall seeing on film before, is a depiction of being in a trench when tanks are rolling over it. There is also good work done by the capable cast in some of the slower/talkie scenes. The main narritive is about a group of young solders over roughly the last 18 months of the First World War, but this version counterpoints a large chunk of its running time with the Armistice negotations, the always welcome Daniel Brühl appears as real world German diplomat Matthais Erzberger (later assinated). An earnest, worthy enough film that just couldn't quite capture me. ***
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