I am convinced that if Paramount Pictures had released this cinematic achievement in the Fall of 2000, Enemy At The Gates would have been clearly considered for a slew of Oscar nominations possibly even Best Picture. I can only hope that the Academy remembers this film come Oscar time next year, as it is the first great movie of 2001.
Enemy at the Gates is a taut historical game of cat and mouse based on a true legend. Jude Law plays Vassili Zaitsev, a Russian soldier who joined the Russian army in 1942 to defend Stalingrad from the Nazis. Through no small miracle, he survives his troops initial surge into Stalingrad and he is literally fallen up on by a Political Commander, Zanilov (Joseph Fiennes). The two meet while Vassili is playing dead in the middle of other bodies in mid-city war-torn Stalingrad. When Vassili uses Zanilov's gun to shoot nearly every commanding Nazi officer within their vicinity with deadly accuracy, the two develop a friendship of sorts and Zanilov uses Vassili's sniper skills to turn him into a legend and market him to keep the hopes of all Russians alive. Eventually this works too well, and the Nazis decide to send their best sniper to knock off Vassili. There is so much more to the story that intertwines a love story and friendship amidst war, but I would prefer to leave it for you to discover yourself.
There is nothing about this film that is lacking. Jean-Jacques Annaud's (Seven Years in Tibet) direction is excellent and keeps you on the edge of your seat. The cinematography is incredible; the recreation of war-torn Stalingrad is stunning. The story is interesting weaves together friendship, heroism, and love in war. I haven't recalled a movie doing this quite that well in a very long time.
In addition to everything else that makes this a powerful film, the acting truly does shine here. I am thinking Jude Law may get an Oscar nod for his performance of the Russian war hero Vassili Zaitsev. Joseph Fiennes is particularly remarkable as the torn Commander Zanilov and definitely deserves a nomination. Rachel Weisz also delivers a fine performance as the young woman determined to fight in the war against the Nazis.
This film is graphic, especially in it's war scenes, but it is necessary to convey the stark reality of the invasion in Stalingrad. This film is not for everyone, it does drag in a spot or two and I initially had a hard time switching gear from sniper tension to lovemaking but in the end I found it worked very well. Not a typical feel good film, but you will leave the theater feeling moved.
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© 2000 camiloarenivar@yahoo.com