Hey folks, Harry here with the inventor of a super car, Earl Windom.... and he and his invention pulled up on a theater that showed ENEMY AT THE GATES. This has been one of the KEY films we've been awaiting word on... and from the sound of it, it seems like the print is quite a ways from being complete... Rough special effects, loose editing... typical early early test screening woes... I've been hearing that the film was a bit behind schedule due to the inordinate amount of effects that haven't been completed due to the lateness with which the plates were turned in... At least that is what one source has told me. SO... take what is being said here as being said about a very very rough film in the early stages.... We probably won't be seeing this film till spring at the earliest... I am sure they want to get everything perfect with this one... I am a bit concerned with the accent issue though... sounds... odd. Hmmmm, we'll wait and see how others react, I'm still holding out hope that this tunes up to be a great one. Here's Earl Windom aka Black Moon Creep and the review he fidgeted together....
Hey Harry!
I caught a screening of Enemy at the Gates this past week and was impressed, but not thrilled. Jude Law is a Russian sniper that's turned into a media hero to pep up a miserable Russia during Germany's siege of Stalingrad. His friend and promoter is Joseph Fiennes. Both of these guys turn in very good performances.
The movie begins with a bloody landing much akin to Saving Private Ryan, but not nearly as lavish or gory. Since it was a test screening and some of the effects were "temporary," I sincerely hope that the shot of planes approaching Stalingrad was a temp. The city looked fake, and for one shot, the ocean was solid white and then an unrealistic blue. Also in this opening sequence is a bizarre animation of a metal Nazi eagle on a tank (I don't quite remember what it's on) that spreads its wings and looks as if it's about to ascend. Even on a metaphorical level, this didn't work. It was silly, but the rest of the movie makes it acceptable.
After Law and Fiennes meet and Law becomes something of a hero, Bob Hoskins enters the picture as Kruschev. He does a fantastic job, and I wish he had more of a substantial role so that he could have a shot at Best Supporting Actor. Once Law's character (Vasali, I think was his name) becomes a major hero and the tide begins to turn, the Germans dispatch Ed Harris to eliminate him. Now, most of the extras and bit characters who play Germans have accents...but not Harris, who makes no pretense of having an accent. Also, several bit Russians have Russian accents, but Law and Fiennes adapt the standard British accent that seems to be the rule in any film that takes place in Europe.
Eventually, Law and Fiennes meet Rachel Weisz's character, and predictably both fall for her. The first scene where they encounter her is a great one, but subsequent scenes fall short, and the romance seems nothing more than an obligatory part of the story.
The greatness of the film lies in the man versus man battle between Law and Harris and the implications of fame on Law's character. Harris's hunt of Law is thrilling...the stuff of which great war movies are made. The sniper scenes are tight and suspenseful and make the movie more than worth watching.
The director does a great job, but the editing wasn't too great. Still, the look and feel of the film were appropriate for the horror of what occurred at Stalingrad. The ending is also appropriate, because it's bittersweet. No one goes marching off into the sunset holding hands or any such nonsense. It's a great war movie, but there's a mediocre love story tied into it. I wouldn't, however, discount the possibility of a few Oscar nominations for performances.
Earl Windom
