In the forest, the wolf lives for three years and the donkey for nine.

Rating: 8/10 (24 November 2013)

Your jaw drops as you see Russian recruits charging German lines in Stalingrad, and then being shot by their own when they try to retreat. You know this film is going to show a carnage of the greatest magnitude.
Amidst the carnage, Commisar Danilov (Joseph Fiennes) meets Vassili Zaitsev (Jude Law), a man with deadly aim. When Nikita Khrushchev (Bob Hoskins) visits, Danilov proposes that they use all means to promote Vassili's skill to increase the morale of the people. Soon, like Sergeant York, his legend grows throughout Stalingrad, and the people are temporarily happy. As Khrushchev says, "Vodka is a luxury we have, caviar is a luxury we have, time we do not have."
The problem is that the German bring in Major König (Ed Harris) to find Vasilli. Konig is just as good as Vasilli, maybe better, and a cat and mouse game begins.
The always lovely Rachel Weisz is there, and Danilov is pursuing her aggressively, while Vasilli looks on longingly. Another contest? Danilov and König prove they are above nothing in their quest for glory, even setting up one for a kill, or killing a child. One hopes for the end of both of them.
A very satisfying story about a Hero of the Soviet Union.