ENEMY AT THE GATES

2001

Some aspects of this film will remind you of other films (e.g., the opening 1/2 hour will inevitably be compared to the opening of "Saving Pvt. Ryan," and the theme music sounds exactly like the theme music from "Schindler's List.") However, most of this, the most expensive European film ever made, is remarkable, well acted, well written, and exciting. Thanks to some fine computer graphics, we can experience the horrible sights and sounds of the Nazi siege of Stalingrad during WWII. What we see as the bombed ruins of Stalingrad, would become the beautiful city of Leningrad (that I visited for a memorable week in 1970,) and eventually, today's St. Petersburg. The focus of the story is on the Russian snipers who were so important in breaking the siege and sending the Nazis back to Germany in defeat. (If the Germans had read War and Peace, they would have known not to repeat Napoleon's mistake in 1812!) Playing the real-life sniper-hero Vasilii is the always-excellent Jude Law. The journalist who documents his exploits is played perfectly by Joseph Fiennes and Ed Harris once again creates a fine portrait of a real person...this time, it's an ace Nazi sniper. Some critics complained that the love-triangle ruined the movie. (Rachel Weisz plays the female lead.) I disagree. The love-triangle presented the necessary conflict between the two Russian men. Without this conflict, things would have turned out very differently. Other critics ccmplained about the fact that the English actors were not speaking with Russian accents. I hate to tell them this, but Russians don't speak with Russian accents...THEY SPEAK RUSSIAN!!! In any case, the film is suspenseful and very exciting. I enjoyed it very much.

4 Stars

NJB

A young Russian sniper (Jude Law) is used by a Russian army propagandist (Joe Fiennes) to give hope and encouragement to a crumbling Russian army trying to defend Stalingrad against Nazi invasion during WWII. Of course, the Nazis aren't going to have any of this, so they send in their top marksman (Ed Harris) to extinguish the Russian threat. Isn't it a refreshing change to finally be able to root FOR the Russians? Filmed in a very classic style, ENEMY does not wow you with the incredible war scenes we've seen in SAVING PRIVATE RYAN or GLADIATOR, but they are still very effective in their simplicity. The strong performances are necessary to carry you through the slow second act of the film, but the ending is worth waiting for. Jude Law as the hero manages to be both brave and human, with all of the hopes, dreams, and concerns of you and I.

3.5 Stars

CDF