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Movie Description
September 1942. The German Army has advanced to the gates of Stalingrad. The Russian Army holds on desperately. It is so poorly equipped that every pair of soldiers is given a single rifle--the second man only gets the weapon when the first is cut down. Trapped in no man's land between the opposing armies, Russian recruit Vassili Zaitsev (Jude Law) finally acquires a rifle from Political Officer Danilov (Joseph Fiennes). Danilov is astonished when Zaitsev picks off several German officers. On their return to the Russian lines, Danilov writes about Zaitsev's exploits in the army newspaper. Zaitsev is assigned to a sniper unit. He kills more German officers and, thanks to Danilov, becomes a hero. In retaliation, the Germans bring in sharpshooter Major König (Ed Harris) from Berlin--to hunt Zaitsev. The two snipers engage in a desperate duel, as the appalling Battle of Stalingrad rages.
In ENEMY AT THE GATES, director Jean-Jacques Annaud uses a palate of dull greens, blues, and greys to tell the powerful, true story of Russian sniper Vassili Zaitsev. The film is distinguished by fine performances from Law, Fiennes, Rachel Weisz as a female soldier, and Bob Hoskins as Nikita Khrushchev--with Harris particularly notable as the chilly, aristocratic König.
Industry Reviews
"...Excellent central performances. Law proves a first-rank leading man, radiating intelligence, nobility and sex appeal..." -- 4 out of 5 stars
Total Film - p.82-3 - Steven Goldman
"...Panoramic, meticulously plotted combat scenes..."
Entertainment Weekly - p.73-4 - Lisa Schwarzbaum
"...[Harris performance has a] chilling dignity and authority..."
Sight and Sound - p.45 - John Wrathall
"...Annaud's film boasts harrowing battle scenes....The film brings history to vital life..."
Rolling Stone - p.145-6 - Peter Travers
"...It's remarkable, a war story told as a chess game..."
Chicago Sun-Times - Roger Ebert (03/16/2001)
"[Law] displays a facility for projecting internal activity, a trait he shares with Ed Harris..."
Premiere - Andy Webster (11/01/2004)
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