Overly long and indulgent director's porn

Rating: 7/10 (4 February 2019)

This is a GOOD film but it's * not * the GREAT people like to think.
First, it's over long. It could easily have been cut by an hour and been improved for it. The colour ending, in particular, should not have been included. Particularly, as it gives credence to the lie many wrongly believe this story is all historical fact when it's absolutely not.
Second, it's very schmaltzy with cookie cutter characters, either all saints or sinners, cartoon Nazi villains, where the only people who seem to suffer from the war are the Jews. This film could have been utterly brilliant if it had been more honest and looked at the complexities and contradictions of Schindler and Goeth's characters and even within the Jews themselves. Schindler's change of heart is never adequately explored.
Third, it being shot in black and white doesn't work well. Though some of the masses may be impressed and think it's arty, it misses the style and lighting of Film Noir. It likes to think of itself as German Expressionist and Italian Neorealist but that it is not. The colorisation of the little girl in the red coat and the candles etc is heavy handed and a patronising distraction that doesn't achieve what it sets out to do.
There's some solid performances particularly by Fiennes but this is one that could have been great but missed it's chance.