Universally acclaimed as one of the best films
ever made, "Schindler's List" lives up to its
reputation. Far different from director Steven
Spielberg's previous films, "Schindler's List" is
never manipulative or ponderous, and except for
the stone-laying ceremony at film's end, bears
its 197-minute length exceptionally well. Filmed
in glorious black and white, and with outstanding
direction and dialogue, the film is nearly
perfect. Most surprising is the casting: no
mega-stars appear in the film, particularly in
the female roles. Casting is done to match the
character, and not to increase box office
receipts.
The film takes place in Germany-occupied Poland,
during World War II. Polish Jews are forced to
relocate from the countryside to the large
cities, then packed into a walled-off ghetto,
exploited as slave labor, and finally forced into
concentration camps. The Jews lose first their
property, then their freedom, then their lives.
What is most chilling about the genocide is the
ruthless efficiency in which it is performed:
each person is continually placed onto one of two
lists; one marked for immediate death, the other
for death postponed. The significance of the
film's title is that this list has an opposite
purpose. It is a list to rescue its members from
near-certain death.
While the plight of the Jews serves as the film's
context, a German Gentile is its central
character. Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson) is
initially a conceited, manipulative womanizer,
whose cynical goal is to make a fortune during
the war using Jewish slave labor. His first
employee is taciturn, brilliant accountant Itzhak
Stern (Ben Kingsley), who sees Schindler's
factory as an opportunity to save Jews from
extinction in concentration camps. Stern's task
is made more difficult by determined, murderous
stormtroopers led by Amon Goeth (Ralph Fiennes).
Schindler is slowly converted from capitalist to
humanitarian, by film's end risking his life and
giving up his fortune to save Jewish lives.
Neeson's flexibility as an actor is impressive.
His character is always evolving, yet always
convincing. Although perhaps becoming too
saintly: "Schindler's List" is a dramatization
more than it is a documentary.
"Schindler's List" won seven Academy Awards,
including those for Best Picture, Best Director,
Best Cinematography (Janusz Kaminski), Best Film
Editing (Michael Kahn), Best Score (credited to
John Williams, but featuring violinist Itzhak
Perlman), Best adapted screenplay (Steven
Zaillian). Neeson and Fiennes were nominated for
Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor,
respectively. (97/100)
Based on a true story SCHINDLER'S LIST is Steven Spielberg's epic drama of World War II Holocaust survivors and the man who unexpectedly came to be th...More at Family Video
Schindler s List, a Steven Spielberg film, is a cinematic masterpiece that has become one of the most honored films of all time. Winner of seven Acade...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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