The Stream: While cute, it’s a lot of movie for Elliott Heffernan to carry.

The Big Screen: A handsome and slick movie with great costumes, effects, and production design.

The Final Bill: A classic World War II drama that looks good but it emotionally flat.

– Trip Fontaine
Director: Steve McQueen
Writers: Steve McQueen
Stars: Saoirse Ronan, Elliott Heffernan
Genre: Drama, Action, History, War
Rating: PG-13 for thematic elements including some racism, violence, some strong language, brief sexuality and smoking.
Runtime: 1 hour 52 minutes
Production Companies: Apple Studios, Working Title Films, New Regency Productions, Lammas Park
Platform: In theaters November 1, 2024, on Apple TV+ November 22, 2024
Notable Trailers: Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin., Wicked, Moana 2, Flow

What’s up, Streamers!?! We’re in post-Halloween time, which means that Oscar hopefuls start to trickle into the movie theaters. We’re talking about sweeping dramatic epics, war movies, and intimate family dramas. Blitz, written and directed by Steve McQueen, ticks each of those boxes. Set in September 1940 as World War II rages on and the London blitz occurs, Blitz follows the story of George (Elliott Heffernan), a young boy whose mother, Rita (Saoirse Ronan), has sent him out of the city in order to protect him from the German bombings. Since George is defiant, he breaks away and goes on a dangerous journey to return home. As he encounters obstacles along the way, the audience is left to wonder whether mother and son will be reunited amidst the war. Oliver Twist-y hijinks ensue.

Steve McQueen really is a masterful director. He has a good eye for the craft of movies, especially these historical epics. He shoots his movies in a way that is engaging with just enough of an unexpected twist to keep the audience guessing. With Blitz, McQueen has assembled a good-looking film. It has beautiful cinematography that generates indelible images like London burning from the bombs dropping. He’s recreated a realistic 1940’s London through costumes, production design and visual effects. Blitz fits into a classically made Hollywood war movie.

Here’s the issue with Blitz: it lacks an emotional punch. The movie relies heavily on the acting abilities of the 9-year-old character. Heffernan is cute and a likeable presence, but he cannot bring the emotion of this story. This makes the movie fall flat. Saoirse Ronan is good as Rita because she is a good actor, but the story is bland and whatever tension there should be is lacking. There are definitely tense moments and action sequences that will put you on the edge of your seat, but once they’re done, you’re left with a ho-hum war movie.

Ultimately, Blitz is a fine movie that relies on old-school, Hollywood storytelling. It has great production values including sound, visual effects, and costumes. The performance by Elliott Heffernan is good, but his role may be too big for his abilities. Therefore, the movie lacks the emotional punch it needs. Blitz may be worth a bowl of popcorn at a matinee to see the spectacle on the big screen, but when it comes on Apple TV+, only stream if bored with a handful of popcorn.