See it for the plot, stay for the Fiennes [SPOILERS]

Rating: 10/10 (14 September 2003)

I rented this movie not knowing quite what I'd be getting into, and was rewarded quite pleasantly -- I'm aware it's not the most historically accurate of films, but it is quality. The screenplay, cinematography, and acting bring a sort of grace to the film that wouldn't be evident otherwise. The chiefly black-and-white film with only the coloured accent of a girl's red coat may seem unnecessarily artsy, but I like artsy. It's a matter of opinion. Schindler's List is a depressingly beautiful film that stirs up some kind of emotion in everyone (even if that emotion happens to be hate) -- one of those films that's either loved or hated.
Ralph Fiennes's portrayal of Amon Goeth alone makes the movie worth watching time and time again. Schindler and Stern, the "saints" of the film, sort of fall into the shadows when Goeth is on-screen -- the man has presence. Even out of uniform, when he walks into the room one thinks "this is the Commandant". Fiennes's acting skills are unrivaled, owing to an amazingly three-dimensional character who has style, presence, and is smoulderingly attractive in that well-groomed sort of way.
It's clear that Goeth's character is a sadistic Nazi officer -- however, Spielberg and the script-writers (as well as Fiennes himself) shy away from the "Big Bad Heartless Goon" stereotype -- in fact, the very first scenes in which he appear make him seem rather petulant and whinging. He barely listens to Hujar's rundown of the basics of Plaszow, instead complaining, "That's not a villa. That's a HOUSE!" Throughout the film, he proves himself to be quite the character -- a cruel sadist, but not exactly brutal -- the way he conducts himself holds too much style and arrogance to be considered barbaric. A man who, from the mouth of Schindler himself, "loves good food, good wine, the ladies, making money -- and killing." He smokes, he drinks, he sleeps around, he's a Nazi officer who kills people for work and for fun, oh, and on top of that he's capable of real love. Despite Goeth's sadism, the crew still persists to nudge the character shy of the "inhuman" stereotype with, among other things, his love for Helen Hirsch and the fact that instead of letting it redeem him, he denies it, even hurts her. He's amazingly 3D -- a second, third, fourth look at the film will only pronounce it further.
In my opinion, the "I pardon you" plot arc was by far the best addition to the film. One knew it was over when we saw Goeth's tainted hand poke the gun out the window -- unlike Schindler, Goeth isn't pointlessly redeemed by one scene. In fact, he dies loyal to Hitler's cause, and clings to his life to the point where the crate has to be *manually broken in half* by two officers. Goeth and his amazing portrayal are by far the best aspect of the movie. Even if I found the rest horrible (which I certainly didn't!), I'd watch it time and again simply for that. He was cheated out of an Oscar.
Oh, and Ralph Fiennes has lovely hands.
10/10.