Spielberg proves he has more than one trick up his sleeve

Rating: 8/10 (26 April 2019)

Schindler's List is a unique work in the catalogue of Steven Spielberg that shows his flair and eye for the visual and artistic, while he may have been more renowned for his large-scale blockbuster story-telling. It is a profound and impactful true story that is captured with raw emotion and striking visual appeal.
Spielberg masterfully utilises the tools of his medium, and even the medium itself as a symbol, creating a graphic and atmospheric piece that is harrowing in the calm moments and horrifying to watch when it escalates. The gravity of the source material is certainly not lost on Spielberg, and the sincerity with which it is handled only adds to its power, as the power of the tragically true events are felt through this film.
Liam Neeson does a superb job, but credit should also be given to the supporting cast. Ralph Fiennes and Ben Kingsley had particularly difficult roles to handle and did so with the mastery that we would expect of them. Further down the list, Embeth Davidtz was another particular standout.
Spielberg's use of black and white film is as impactful as it is famous, particularly when it comes to the rare use of colour as motif. While the colours in the candle flames and the young Jewish girl's coat are particularly muted, they are a stark contrast to the world around them, and powerful moments in film.
However, to go against the grain of history and provide one tiny grain of criticism, I felt that Spielberg was far too committed to visually depicting the crimes of Nazi Germany in a powerful and harrowing manner, and there are times during this film's lengthy runtime that the story itself is lost to the "documentary depiction" of World War II. It felt at times that certain scenes were added purely for dramatic effect on the audience, and not for any real practical use to the story.
That being said, Schindler's List is amongst the most harrowing and powerful war films of all time, and its emotional impact is certainly lasting. It is a testament to Spielberg's mastery and love of his artform and his metacinematic style, which contrasts his earlier works of the likes of Raiders of the Lost Ark and Jaws.