April 26, 2001 — "Enemy at the Gates" is Hollywood's latest effort in exploring the endless of store of grit, blood and pathos that is World War II.
The movie traces the career of real-life Russian hero, the celebrated sniper Vassili Zaitsev (Jude Law) through the Battle of Stalingrad, which cost more than 1.8 million Russian and German lives.
When he becomes aware of the extraordinary skills of Vassili, a quiet shepherd boy from the Urals, Soviet political officer Danilov ( Joseph Fiennes) decides to build him into a national hero, somebody to give the weary defenders the will to continue fighting. The Russians have suffered a steady series of defeats by the Nazis.
His newfound fame has its dark side. Vassili finds himself confronting the Nazi's famous sharpshooter, Major Konig (Ed Harris). The famous Stalingrad Battle is upstaged, some say, by the intense and cunning battle between the two war heros stalking one another. And, wouldn't you know it, they both fall in love with the same female, a Russian soldier, Tania (Rachel Weisz).
Called "Private Ryan for Dummies," by one critic, the film has also been hailed as an "epic war story" by others. It's almost two and half hours long, directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud, and written by Alain Godard and Annaud. It is rated R for strong, graphic war violence and some sexuality.
It starts at Market Square East Thursday.
