When you think of iconic movies and pieces of cinematic history, what comes to mind? While answers will vary, for many people, Schindler's List is a definitive piece of cinema. And they're right. Schindler's List goes beyond just being a simple little movie, it becomes a piece of culture and history. Steven Spielberg, who directed the movie, is so articulate with details and all of the actors painstakingly bring the characters to life, making a rare piece of movie magic.
Schindler's List is the true story of Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson) during the tragedies of the Holocaust. Oskar, being the business man that he is, finds war the perfect time to start a factory and get rich fast. Getting help from a Jew, Itzhak Stern (Ben Kingsley), the two set out to start a business to produce army mess kits. Together they hire Jews from the ghetto, but Schindler's only goal is to make money. As the war continues, the Jews are relocated to a camp under the control of a sadistic SS Lieutenant by the name of Amon Goeth (Ralph Fiennes). Jews are being killed one by one, and only Oskar can step up to the plate to try and save them.
Make no mistake, the events and characters in this movie are 100% fact. And Steven Spielberg, known for making his scenes feel extremely real, holds absolutely nothing back. What makes this movie so unique is that from beginning to end, it never feels like a movie. It feels like a documentary. And through a strong script, a focused director, and a powerhouse cast, Schindler's List gets under your skin and becomes more than just a film.
The acting in this movie is just beyond belief. Never once did I doubt the characters or think that the actors were doing a bad job. You can tell that everyone was moved by the story, so they really committed to nailing the characters. However, the top three performances go to Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, and Ben Kingsley. They each play such different people, and its their contrasts that make each stand out. Liam Neeson plays the perfect hero. He's perfect because he's flawed. He was a Nazi out to make money, but through a series of events, starts to care for the Jews. His transformation on screen is phenomenal. Also, the scene were he realizes he could have saved more Jews had he sold his car and other belongings is just so gut-wrenching and powerful. Ralph Fiennes plays the perfect villain. He's sadistic and crazed and enjoys torturing and killing Jews. And Fiennes just knocks the character out of the park. I imagine it would have been hard to play, but Fiennes never lets the audience down. Finally, Ben Kingsley is just a lovable character. He's so quiet and smart and loyal, he's hard not to love. Kinngsley captures a variety of emotions, and portrays them in such subtle ways. He, too, is amazing in this film.
Stark, and gritty, and real. Reading about the Holocaust and witnessing its atrocities are two completely separate things, and nothing can really prepare you for this movie. Chances are you won't feel like you're watching a movie, but that you are bearing witness to the real thing. And that is what's so frightfully good about this movie. Schindler's List is an iconic movie from a director like no other. Nothing is held back from the topic at hand, making a fantastic historical film. It is without hesitation that I can now finally give a movie a perfect score.
RATING: 5 / 5
This movie is rated R (language, some sexuality, nudity, and actuality violence)
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