(rated R, 131 mins)
Set against the siege of Stalingrad, during World War II where the fate of the world is being divided, young Russian sharp-shooter Vassili (Jude Law), bonds on a battlefield with a savvy political officer Danilov (Joseph Fiennes), making him the hero of his propaganda campaign. With “Legends of the Fall” undertones, they both fall for a tomboy babe soldier (Rachel Weisz) in a story that also tries to be a little too much “Schindler’s List”. (Maybe Joseph wanted to follow in big bro Ralph Fiennes shoes). It’s muddy and bloody from beginning to end and the British/American accents make for poor Germans. Even Ed Harris as the most elite marksman isn’t up to par in screen presence. He finds himself thrust into a duel waging an intense personal war while the most momentous battle of the age rages around them. It lacks sympathy for any of the soldiers mainly because we see them dying long before we know them. And, that’s the moment the movie opens.
