March 19, 2001


Enemy at the Gates
(Paramount) Rated R

Release Date - March 16, 2001
 


Starring: Jude Law, Joseph Fiennes, Rachel Weisz,
Ed Harris, Bob Hoskins
Directed by: Jean-Jacques Annaud
Produced by: John D. Schofield, Jean-Jacques Annaud
Written by: Alain Godard, Jean-Jacques Annaud

Enemy tells the story of a sharpshooter who becomes the center of the Russian propaganda campaign designed to inspire the nation’s troops.  But it starts with this man in the midst of a journey to a besieged Stalingrad that is clearly meant to measure up to or reach past what Steven Spielberg did in Saving Private Ryan.  But it is one of the poorest imitations I have seen so far.  The first 10 minutes of this film are like a textbook intended to give the viewer an appreciation of just how brilliant Spielberg is.  For one thing, we make the journey with Tom Hanks, with whom we have a relationship, even before entering the theater.  As Jude Law makes his trip, we have no idea who he is – except that we are keeping an eye on him – and how we should feel about anything that is happening.  Of course, once he says, “I need a gun,” the outcome is inevitable… but not in a good way.  Similarly, we get a glimpse at Rachel Weisz in the first minutes, only to have her disappear for an extended period.   Why?  Is there a payoff? 

 

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