Single-take '1917' is technically brilliant, but its story is not so strong

The World War I drama “1917” raises a big question for a moviegoer: What matters more? The story a movie tells, or the technique used to tell it?

This is a question that usually comes up with summer blockbusters, where the whizbang special effects often drive the bus and the human interaction of characters takes a back seat, and fans enjoy the spectacle, eat their popcorn and curse those critics who can’t “leave their brains at the door.” But when the divide between technical wizardry and storytelling happens with a movie that’s considered an Academy Awards favorite — winning top honors at last weekend’s Golden Globes for the film and director Sam Mendes — the divide can’t be brushed aside so easily.

Read the full review at sltrib.com.