About Enemy at the Gates

Post 1892:

It’s by no means a perfect movie, but having recently rewatched Enemy at the Gates, I’d have to give it a big recommendation. The four main actors are fantastic… well, three of four. I’m not huge on Ed Harris as the Nazi sniper.

Getting ahead of myself. This is a war movie about a famous Russian sniper who made a name for himself in the horrific Battle of Stalingrad in 1942. The scenes of terrible slaughter are hard to watch, but when you look at the casualty numbers, it’s not unrealistic.

Jude Law is young, brave and vulnerable as the hero. I watch this and can’t help but think his filmography is a bit of a letdown. I’m sure he’s doing fine, but what an actor.

Joseph Fiennes is great as well, the grasping, jealous best friend. I like a good grasping best friend. He’s appropriately annoying and ultimately sympathetic.

I love how this huge battle between the Soviets and the Germans is played out between two snipers. The Russians are depicted as scrappy underdogs against the Nazis, which is fair. Up to that point, Germany was pretty much kicking the dump out of everybody.

My favorite thing about the movie is its depiction of the absurdity of communism. Since I was two I never liked rules or people that like to make rules, so I’m basically allergic to authority. It’s probably not noble to say but I love a film that gives us a look at the insane stupidity of two totalitarian regimes slugging it out. It’s sad and makes you think, but it doesn’t make the characters into cutouts. It manages to keep politics out of the mouths of the actors enough so we can identify with them.

There are a few big conveniences and real plot issues, but based solely on the love triangle and the duel to the death, I gotta call this a winner. Little too long, but worth the watch. Better than most, often overlooked. Cheers and see you after.