Master director Jean-Jacques Annaud and his talented cast and crew truly come to the fore with Enemy at the Gates. A sweeping historical epic, a gripping war story, and a moving drama all in one, Europe’s most expensive film production ever is at least an equal to the more celebrated Saving Private Ryan.

It’s August 1942 and after a year of scrambling backwards from the Nazi war machine, the Soviet Union finds its ideological back against the wall. The colossal German forces have reached the gates of the industrial city of Stalingrad and, to the Red Army’s political masters, surrendering the city that bears their supreme commander’s name is unthinkable.

The Soviet strategy for halting Hitler’s hordes at Stalingrad is to simply hurl as many troops as possible into the battle, regardless of how poorly trained and ill-equipped they may be. Among the hundreds of thousands of frightened new recruits rushed in by armed pressgangs is a former shepherd by the name of Vassily Zaitsev (Jude Law).

Vassily’s time as cannon fodder is blessedly cut short when his prowess with a rifle catches the eye of the influential Commissar Danilov (Joseph Fiennes). Redeployment to an elite sniper unit follows, and the young rifleman quickly discovers that the skills honed protecting a flock from the ravages of wolves easily transfer to eliminating German officers from afar.

When Vassily isn’t blending in to the bombed out ruins looking to add another Nazi colonel’s scalp to his tally, he’s used as a regular feature in his new friend Danilov’s propaganda newspaper. After a few issues, the boy from the frozen heights of the Urals’ and his exploits become the stuff of legend and a source of inspiration for his Red Army comrades.

The Soviets aren’t the only ones to notice Vassily’s feats. Word travels all the way to Berlin, and Major König (Ed Harris), Germany’s most decorated marksman, is quickly assigned to Stalingrad with express orders to hunt and kill his Russian rival. A tense cat and mouse game ensues between the sharpshooters, as two of the largest armies the world has ever seen fight to the death around them.

Vassily Zaitsev is a prominent figure in Soviet history. His sniper rifle is still on display today in the Russian armed forces museum in Moscow. In Zaitsev’s great shoes, Jude Law (The Talented Mr Ripley) is exemplary. The 30 year old actor engenders an enormous amount of empathy for a reluctant hero who, despite his larger-than-life portrayal in Soviet propaganda, is more than aware of his own fragile mortality. While Law’s English accent is jarring at first, it’s more than forgivable given his overall performance.

Although Vassily stands as the central figure, a myriad of different characters add their significance to the film’s story. Ed Harris (Glengarry Glen Ross), as Major König, produces perhaps the best performance of his career. Rather than portraying a mindless Nazi killer, he presents a multi-faceted character that keeps the audience guessing until the very end. Rachel Weisz (About a Boy), as Vassily’s tragic love interest, and Bob Hoskins (Who Framed Roger Rabbit) as a ranting Nikita Khrushchev are also outstanding.

French director Jean-Jacques Annaud (Seven Years in Tibet) once again showcases his ability to captivate with a focused human drama set on a very large stage. To make the obligatory comparison, the visual and emotional impact of both the film’s story and its horrific battle settings are certainly on a par with Saving Private Ryan. However, unlike Spielberg’s blockbuster, Enemy at the Gates is refreshingly devoid of painful clichés, character stereotypes, and gratuitous spurting arteries.

Despite being inexplicably snubbed at the Oscars, Enemy at the Gates is easily one of 2001’s best films. With its masterful blend of historical epic, thriller, war story, and drama, Annaud’s masterpiece is a definite ‘must see’ for any adult fan of an all-round cinematic experience. Five stars all the way.

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age