Schindler's List

Rating: 10/10 (13 November 2019)

It took legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg to direct The Color Purple and Empire of the Sun, both certainly very underrated films of his filmography, to earn himself as a "serious" director doing "serious" movies for a change. It was 1983 and Sid Sheinberg, the then President and CEO of Universal Studios, bought the rights of a book based upon the story of Oskar Schindler and handed over to Spielberg, which - at the time - Spielberg refused to do the movie because he wasn't ready. Ten years later, he was ready and made one of the most historically significant movies ever made. Without further ado, this is my review of Schindler's List.
Based upon the novel Schindler's Ark by Thomas Keneally, this true story is about Oskar Schindler, (Liam Nesson) a womanizer, war profiteer, party animal and a member of the German Army. It was the beginning of World War II in September 1939 where the German Army defeated the Polish Army in two weeks. In favor, the German Army and the Third Reich has invaded Krakow, to force Jewish communities to work for them and caused the murders of innocent lives. Out of the blue, Schindler notices that the Jews are suddenly decreasing in their population. As Schindler bribes the German Army to put Jews into his factory, more lives are being saved, including Schindler's accountant Itzhak Stern. (Sir Ben Kingsley) Taking notice of this going on is Commander Amon Göth, (Ralph Fiennes) a psychopath who murders many innocent lives for, sometimes, no apparent reason. The more Schindler bribes him, the more lives are saved and Schindler, with Stern on his side, creates a list of names for the Jews to go to his factory in his hometown. When the war is over, after six long years, Schindler had saved more the 1,100 Jews during the Holocaust. Because of what he did, he inspired generations.
I first saw Schindler's List when I was fifteen on VHS, unaware that my favorite filmmaker, Steven Spielberg, has directed this movie. The moment the movie was over after 195 minutes, I left my room stunned and couldn't fall asleep that night. The movie was a shocker and unlike any movie that I had ever seen before. It was an un-Spielberg type of film because I'm used to his science fiction filns like E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and Close Encounters of the Third Kind and action films like Raiders of the Lost Ark. I went to school the next morning, still mesmerized and thinking about the film of how gritty, painful and beautifully shot it really was and still is today. Then, I felt inspiration in it that all kinds of people can save innocent lives from the curse of evildoers in the world.
Today, since I'm a grown adult, I watched the movie again and I couldn't find any flaw whatsoever in this marvelous story of good vs. evil in the history of film. The direction by Spielberg was so much more than just brilliantly done, but it's as though he was like Sir David Lean behind the camera. He masterminded the subject matter that must be seen by, not only fans of cinema, but for people all over the world to see how horrifying the Holocaust was at the time. The movie is also well written, well designed, well photographed, well edited, well casted. It was very well done. It still shocks me to this day that Tommy Lee Jones won Best Supporting Actor for The Fugitive over Ralph Fiennes for his incredible acting of a cruel man, in this case "soldier", with a mental illness. The movie overall won seven Oscars that year, including Best Picture and Director, and it was rightfully deserved.
Before I conclude this review, I want to give a special shout out to the man who created the emotional elements to the film in the music. John Williams. Of course, the man is a legendary composer and conductor, but the score is beautiful, heartbreaking and tear-jerking to this day and I still find myself wiping tears from my eyes from listening to the Oscar-winning score. Bravo, Mr. Williams!
In conclusion, this is a must-see film that the entire world needs to see. Even if there is Holocaust-denyers in this world, but ignore their denial and watch what really happened in those six painful years of suffering, death and slavery. This is not movie magic. It's not even a movie to feel entertained. It's an informative piece of art that describes how moviemaking can change to the next level. It's the eighth greatest movie of all time, based on the American Film Institute. If you are watching this movie for the first time, bring lots of tissues, skip the popcorn and soda and pay attention to this movie. I highly recommend this movie, even if you think Spielberg is overrated. Always remember the man that, not only saved one life, but saved the world entire.
10/10