’’Not One Step Back!’’
I went to see this film after arriving at my local cinema to find that Crouching Tiger, Hidden Tiger was not showing for another 3 hours. I had heard mixed reports on Enemy at The Gates, ranging from ’’masterpiece’’ to ’’dull and boring’’. The truth is, it is neither of these. It mat not be the greatest piece of cinematography, but it certainly isn’t the worst.
Jude Law plays a Russian farmboy who is rushed off to war to fight in Stalingrad, in an attempt to hold off the Germans. His talent for shooting is soon discovered by Fiennes, a propaganda officer in the war. Fiennes sets out to portray Law as a hero, giving hope to all the Russian soldiers. Law, however, gets locked in a battle with a German sniper.
With Enemy dubbed as one of the most expensive European projects in history (reportedly with a budget in excess of £60m), it is not hard to see where the money went. The battle scenes are spectacular, with the scenery itself having been painstakingly recreated. In particular, with the first battle scene, where it is completely silent bar muted gun effects and men falling to the mud.
The performers do well also, with Law very much the young sniper, and Fiennes a perfect propaganda orientated Russian. Ed Harris is the pick of the crop, as the German Sniper, Konig. His silent performances during sniping scenes is superb. The only place the acting slighty suffers is in Rachel Weisz, who plays the love interest of both Law and Fiennes, which incidently is quite a weak sub-plot.
The harrowing scenes of carnage are the film’s high point. The soundtrack composed by James Horner fits in perfectly as Law and Harris do silent battle. The only other slight down point was the ending. Without giving anything away, it is predictable at best. The other point is, that the film gives the impression that the battle of Stalingrad (of which, other than the fact that it is based there, there is little mention) was won by one Russian sniper, which it was most definetly not. However, this should not deter you from spending a few pounds for a couple of hours of good, solid entertainment.