Today’s quick review: Enemy at the Gates. During the Battle of Stalingrad, Vassili Zaitsev (Jude Law), a Russian farmboy, impresses Soviet political officer Danilov (Joseph Fiennes) with his sharpshooting. Danilov secures Vassili a position as a sniper and sets about turning him into a hero to inspire the troops. But Vassili’s success as a sniper causes the Nazis to send Major Konig (Ed Harris), a crafty sniper, to Stalingrad to beat Vassili at his own game.
Enemy at the Gates is a war drama set during one of the bloodiest battles in history. Offering powerful dramatic performances and tense sniper action, Enemy at the Gates depicts the grim nature of World War II, the harsh impositions of life in the Soviet Union, and the perseverance needed to make it through both. The mixture of character drama and combat lets Enemy at the Gates capture both sides of the war, personal and military, in a single, cohesive tale.
Enemy at the Gates features a fairly impressive cast. Joseph Fiennes and Jude Law have an instant chemistry, forming a fast friendship in spite of their differences in rank. Rachel Weisz plays the charming and determined Tania Chernova, a loyal Russian who catches the eye of both Danilov and Vassili. For his part, Ed Harris plays Major Konig as a calm, relentless sniper whose craft and experience make him a true nemesis for Vassili.
Watch Enemy at the Gates when you are in the mood for a tense war drama with a competent romantic subplot. The film’s elaborate sniper duels give it an edge over other war movies, turning its action sequences into battles of wits. Skip it if you are looking for a light watch or prefer more straightforward action.
7.6 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 for strong characters and tense sniper action.