Moving & Well-Constructed

Rating: 10/10 (6 March 2001)

A few hours ago I saw this film at a special advanced screening at which the director, Jean-Jacques Annaud, was present. The film was unlike any war film I've ever seen -- it was aesthetically done, especially the beginning, and the story was easy to follow. There were many suspenseful moments in the film, truly ingenious so as to make them unpredictable. The cast turned in spectacular performances. Jude Law was truly the star, and he should have gotten first billing. He expressed a range of emotions that will truly grant him more challenging roles in the future. The role of Ralph Fiennes was slightly exasperating, but his performance was commendable, much like in Shakespeare in Love. Rachel Weisz, who was very funny in The Mummy, proved here that she can handle serious dramatic roles as well as comedic-adventures. Ed Harris did a great job as the general, completely believable and sinister without being a ham. This is a highly recommended film. The plot was engaging, the scenes captivating, and the direction spectacular. Annaud said he was interested in historical fiction because there are always great stories to tell. That is undoubtedly true here.