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Edward Berger’s 2022 adaptation of All Quiet on the Western Front is a brutal triumph. In a year where Top Gun Maverick is the top-grossing film in America, it’s essential to see the other side. Given the state of the world now, with conflicts abounding, it’s pertinent to show the fruitlessness of war. World War 1 was a fierce conflict. Anyone who has read history knows that. Even so, I don’t think I was pretty prepared for the visceral impact. This is arguably the best film of the year. A completely immersive experience that pounds you over the head with its anti-war message. Audiences are used to seeing the brutality of violence on screen, but never in a way this immediate and impactful. Not for a long time, at least. One sequence involving tanks is the most heart-pounding I’ve ever watched in a long time.
Most importantly, the film is about the de-romanticization of war. Our protagonist enters the war fresh-faced and ready to serve his country. He leaves it fighting a useless battle after the war is already over. I only wish to see the film on the big screen (it’s streaming on Netflix) because the production values are immersive and brilliant. Now more than ever, you should see All Quiet on the Western Front. It’s an absolute triumph.
***1/2 out of ****
