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Movie Capsule Review

ENEMY AT THE GATES (2001)

(131 mins., R)

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Credits

Release Date: Mar 16, 2001; Rated: R; Length: 131 Minutes; Genres: Drama, War; With: Ed Harris and Jude Law

C+

By Lisa Schwarzbaum

Lisa Schwarzbaum

Lisa Schwarzbaum is a film critic for EW

A simplified ''happy'' hero's story based on a real Red Army recruit in WWII whose sharpshooting skills helped demoralize the Nazis and rally the Russians during the Battle of Stalingrad. The role of the shepherd-turned-sniper is immeasurably amped by the grubby beauty of Jude Law. The Germans pull out their own big guns and force him into a showdown with an equally talented Nazi shooter (a quiet Ed Harris). Director Jean-Jacques Annaud and cinematographer Robert Fraisse take great pains with their panoramic, meticulously plotted combat scenes, but the greatest pains are taken over lighting the gold-flecked eyes of Law, the burning blue peepers of Harris and, for good measure, the chocolatey brown orbs of Joseph Fiennes, in a thankless prop role as a political officer. C+

Posted Mar 30, 2001

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News Summary ''Enemy'' may storm the box office (Mar 16, 2001) | Sandra P. Angulo
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