All Quiet on the Western Front

Author Erich Maria Remarque’s realistic depiction of combat from the perspective of young soldiers in the trenches was a best-selling 1929 novel. As a German veteran of World War I, All Quiet on the Western Front connected with soldiers and civilians across the globe. It sold 2.5 million copies in 22 languages in its first 18 months in print. In 1930, the publication became a landmark work of American cinema. Lewis Milestone won the Oscar for Best Director, and the production won Best Picture. It was even reworked again as a TV movie in 1979 starring Richard Thomas.

I didn’t feel like the book needed another adaptation. So this version directed by Edward Berger wasn’t high on my “to see” list. It debuted on Netflix on October 28th and briefly occupied the Top 10 for a couple of weeks. It was overshadowed in popularity at the time by The Good Nurse, a drama starring Jessica Chastain and Eddie Redmayne. Then on Tuesday, January 19th, the BAFTA awards were announced, and this feature got a staggering 14 nominations, more than any other. My curiosity was piqued.

The story follows a teenager named Paul Bäumer (Felix Kammerer) and his friends Albert Kropp (Aaron Hilmer) and Franz Müller (Moritz Klaus), who voluntarily enlist in the German army. There they make friends with a more experienced solider named Stanislaus “Kat” Katczinsky (Albrecht Schuch). They’re full of patriotism to represent their country, but that excitement soon dissipates as they face the brutalities of war. Witness their youthful, almost angelic faces caked in soot, with only the whites of their eyes shining through. This portrait emphasizes the humanity that shines through the dirt and grime.

All Quiet on the Western Front is a faithful adaptation of a German novel with German actors speaking their native language. It took nearly a century for a German rendition of Remarque’s seminal tome to come to fruition. The fact that the book was banned in Nazi Germany for its anti-war position didn’t make that journey any easier. The production looks good. Cinematographer James Friend offers up breathtaking imagery. It’s a beautifully photographed, handsomely mounted period piece that effectively illustrates the notion that…are you ready? War is Hell.

That sentiment is a timeworn cliche at this point. The production doesn’t have any novel ideas to add. However, it does at least provide an experience. Feel the visceral thrill of combat immersed in the muddy trenches. It has a palpable “you are there” aesthetic. As such, the account repeatedly reminded me of the Sam Mendes picture 1917 in both style and subject matter. Even star Felix Kammerer is a dead ringer for 1917‘s George MacKay. I loved that film, and I likewise appreciate this one too. However, there are long stretches over the course of this 148-minute movie where nothing happens. This narrative is significantly slower and less cinematic than 1917. In the shadow of that epic, this chronicle feels more than a little “been there done that.”

Nevertheless, the upcoming Oscar nominations will be announced on Tuesday, January 24th, and this is becoming a real contender. It’s a German movie, so at the very least, it’s a guaranteed lock for a place in Best International Film, but it’s likely to get cited in other categories. We shall see.

01-19-23