Grade: 97%
2022 Ranked - HERE

All Quiet on the Western Front has been high on my radar for months, especially after hearing so many positive reviews from festivals. If a war film is done well I am always completely on board, it’s a genre in film that I absolutely love and I am so happy that this is one of the best war films in years and one of my favourite movies of the year as well. Netflix absolutely needs to push this for awards consideration because it’s a film that fires on all cylinders technically. The direction from Edward Berger is fantastic, I had never even heard of him until this film and now he’s definitely on my radar for future releases. The cinematography is captivating, the action is extremely well done and it showcases the brutality of the First World War without holding back. The emotional core of this film is so effective as it follows a 17 year-old German who signs up for the war with such a naivety for what is actually in store for him. The film shows as his wide-eyed innocence gets absolutely destroyed throughout his service in the trenches. You watch as he continuously has to suffer through this war and it feels so incredibly real from start to finish. The score is enthralling and unique, it fits perfectly with the film in general. There’s not much negative to say about this film in my opinion, I think there are a couple scenes that maybe felt less integral than others but it’s all just nitpicking at this point. All Quiet on the Western Front is a brutally mesmerizing war film that didn’t have a lot of weaknesses for me, I definitely see myself having the urge to watch it again and I truly hope Netflix gives this the awards push it so deserves.