Inspiring

Rating: 7/10 (25 April 2019)

"Enemy at the Gates" is an intense film with fascinating characters, but it is a bit predictable.
-Analysis of Notable Work- *Writing/Directing: The story follows an underdog Russian sniper who goes head to head against a legendary German sniper. It's full of heart-thumping moments and is never dull. We root for Vassili all the way through. The directing of Jean-Jacques Annaud is focused and inspirational. It's a film that is sure to leave you with a sense of victory. *Cinematography/Editing: Robert Fraisse's command of light is spectacular all throughout the film. The imagery is gritty and dull, reflecting the mood of the characters during the dingy sense of hopelessness of WWII. The film has quite a slow pace which works wonderfully in this instance. It is essentially one long game of chess between two incredible snipers. Each scene is cut in a way that brings true tension to the moment. *Dialogue/Acting: The dialogue is acceptable, but not anything too inspiring. Really what is said without words is what is most powerful about this film. The performances of Jude Law and Ed Harris are captivating. Joseph Fiennes holds his own. Rachel Weisz draws us in with a strong performance. *Music/Sound: Powerful and intensifying, the music adds to the story. The sound design is quite brilliant. Each moment feels real and authentic. *Production Design/Special Effects: The battlefields are cluttered and destroyed, providing a tremendous sense of realism. Costume design is not overly impressive, but it gets the job done. The practical effects are very well done and never takes the audience out of the film.
*Conclusion: "Enemy at the Gates" shows us the clash between two talented men and leaves us feeling satisfied. Ed Harris's Konig is not pure evil, which makes him a great character; we have a respect for him. But in war there must be a victor, and we are not disappointed by the outcome.