Excellent and Important, But Not Perfect

Rating: 9/10 (26 March 2019)

Schindler's List is one of Spielberg's finest films in most respects. The story, cinematography and attention to detail are arresting. Spielberg's use of light is never less than extraordinary, with many superb examples of it in this black and white film. It won a deserved Oscar for Best Picture, and the subject matter--one man's attempt to save Jews from the horrors of the Holocaust (vividly depicted)--makes it required viewing, especially to deniers of that entire part of history.
But I did find it a bit of a slog to get through. It's a film I haven't watched more than once. This doesn't make it a bad film, just one I appreciated once and let go. For one thing I felt it could have been more severely edited and still have kept its impact. In short, I felt its length. For another, I felt a curious detachment from the character of Schindler himself, as well as other characters. It seemed as if I were on the outside looking in, as opposed to being there in the action. Perhaps that was deliberate, but it kept me at arm's length. The result was that it often felt more like a documentary than a drama. Perhaps some of that is unavoidable. In order to depict the grim reality of man's inhumanity to man, maybe we do need to be kept at arm's length. I also felt the music (sad and beautiful violins) became heavy-handed after an hour or so. Again, probably Spielberg's exact intention, but I did not care for it.
To me, the highest-rated films are those I will gladly watch over and over. So, I give Schindler's List 10 stars on its merits. It is excellent, it is important, it should be seen. I give it 8 stars for repeat watch-ability, or 9 overall.