ODEON Magazine 113 Nov/Dec | Page 31

things you need to know about… 1 Sam Mendes is behind the camera Since exploding onto the scene in 1999 with the Best Picture- winning American Beauty, Mendes has made just a handful of films. Anything new from him is therefore a really big deal. Watch the trailer 1917 2 It’s filmed to look like one long shot • “From the very beginning I felt this movie should be told in real time,” explains Mendes. “It’s meant to make you feel like you’re in the trenches with these characters,” adds producer Pippa Harris. 3 The plot is based on a real-life story told to Mendes by his grandfather It sees two young soldiers being sent on a death or glory mission to deliver a message which could save a British battalion of 1,600 men. 4 The cast is superb • Playing the young men tasked with the impossible are George MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapman, while Andrew Scott, Richard Madden, Colin Firth and Benedict Cumberbatch also star. 5 Parts of the film were shot on the River Tees in Teesdale • The production team had to put up signs telling walkers in the area not to be alarmed by the number of ‘bodies’ on the ground, reassuring them they were fake. See 1917 from 10 January. Watch the incredible trailer here: bit.ly/trailer1917 Introducing... Roman Griffin Davis Born: London, England Parents: Camille Griffin (director) & Ben Davis (cinematographer) Not since Haley Joel Osment in The Sixth Sense has a young actor impressed us as much as Roman Griffin Davis in Jojo Rabbit. The Brit, who was just 10 at time of filming, plays the title role in Taika Waititi’s WW2 satire and absolutely knocks it out of the park. We look forward to seeing what this exceptionally talented young man does next. See Jojo Rabbit in cinemas from 1 January Venom sequel • Rooney Mara will reteam with her Carol co-star Cate Blanchett for Guillermo del Toro’s Nightmare Alley @ODEON @odeoncinemas @ODEONCinemas ODEON.co.uk 31 George MacKay is a young soldier on a mission in Sam Mendes’ 1917