Etc.
Section B • Page 6
The University Daily Kansan
Thursday, March 15, 2001
Enemy at the Gates a vivid war epic
By Clara McLellan
joyplay@kansan.com
 joyplay movie critic
Enemy at the Gates is the perfect date movie.
Its strange for a war flick to be labeled a "date" movie, but here's why: Guys will love it for its plethora of guns, and girls will love it for its plethora of Jude Law.
Enemy at the Gates isn't exactly "just another war movie," because several elements set it apart. It focuses on Russia, which we rarely see, and is based on the life a real soldier — yet nothing overwhelmingly fresh is going on. There's lots of blood and battles, patriotism and a nice love triangle tossed in.
The movie is based on the true story of a Russian sniper, Vassili Zaitsev (Law), and set in Stalingrad during World War II.
Zaitsev's talent as a markman is discovered early on in the film by Danilov (Joseph Fiennes), who produces Russian war propaganda and sees Vassili as a potential inspiration for the ravished Russian troops.
Danilov makes Vassili a national hero. When the Germans learn of this, they send their best sniper, Major Konig (Ed Harris), to kill him. Konig and Vassili spend the rest of the movie in an meticulous game of cat and mouse, each trying to bring the other down first.
As Vassili struggles with the responsibility of his hero status, he falls for Tania, a young female soldier. Their relationship is never fully developed and it almost feels a bit forced. It does, however, create conflict between the two
friends, Danilov and Vassili, as Danilov has fallen for the same girl.
Too many personal battles occur between Konig and Vassili, but sadly not enough character development. Each actor aptly fits his or her part, but their chemistry seems off. Despite the slightly more than two-hour running time, the characters never seem comfortable with each other.
Law, who received an Oscar nomination for his supporting part in The Talented Mr. Ripley, proves his ability again here, as does Fiennes. Their talent is obvious but it just doesn't play out as well here as it did in their previous films.
Jude Law plays a Russian sniper in Enemy at the Gates, based on real-life hero Vassili Zaitsev during World War II.
Contributed Photo
The supporting cast is superb, notably Harris. He is perfect for these parts, always able to skillfully construct his characters in the time allotted. Director, co-producer and
Director, co-producer and co-writer Jean-Jacques
Annaud brings to the story to the screen in epic form. Similar to some of his previous films such as *Seven Years in Tibet and The Name of the Rose*, this movie transports the viewer to a specific place and time in a vividly real fashion. But once we get
there, the screenplay and dialogue hinder the audience from being fully immersed in this story.
Enemy at the Gates is nothing that hasn't been done before—and it's been done better.
The film opens tomorrow.
Edited by Joshua Richards
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