Both an artistic and a commercial triumph, Steven Spielberg's Schindler's List manages to find some small glimmer of hope for the human spirit amid the abomination that was the Holocaust. The true story of flamboyant entrepreneur Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson) and his attempts to save Jewish lives under the very noses of his Nazi associates gives Spielberg a focal point of conscience and humanity in an otherwise unrelentingly grim depiction of mankind's worst traits, here memorably embodied by Ralph Fiennes as the sadistic Nazi commandant Amon Goeth. Spielberg's determined... and unflinching vision is supported by a dignified score from regular collaborator John Williams, and evocative black-and-white cinematography by Janusz Kaminski, which alternates a semi-documentary feel for the harrowing ghetto and concentration camp sequences with an altogether more decadent sensibility for the Nazis. The single use of colour tells of horror more shocking than any words could convey. It's true that towards the end Spielberg lets his sentimental streak off the leash when he chooses to focus on Schindler's grief, but otherwise this is filmmaking of the highest kind: compellingly dramatic, profoundly educational, and unfailingly emotive in the very best sense. On the DVD: Schindler's List is thinly spread across two discs, with a break at just over two hours into this three-hour movie. It's a little surprising that the feature could not have fitted onto one disc, especially given the absence of commentary or other additional tracks. The 1.85:1 anamorphic picture is fine, though displaying the graininess of the original film stock. Sound is available in highly detailed DTS. Extras on the second disc are limited to Voices from the List, a 77-minute documentary featuring the personal testimony of Schindler survivors, and an 11-minute feature on Spielberg's Shoah Foundation. There's nothing at all about the making of the movie. --Mark Walker [show more]
Tackling this subject was always going to be an emotional assignment for Steven Spielberg and in choosing the great Thomas Keneally"s book to illustrate this horrific chapter in history, Spielberg found a perfect vehicle. The story of Oskar Schindler is naturally involving, but also comprehensive in this subject matter with it"s portrayal of Nazi corruption, Ghetto life and the Camp horror. Individual sub plots further illuminate the totality of the human suffering, such as the one armed machinist, the cleaner for the Commandant in the camp, the ransacking of Jewish possessions after the trains have left and the disguised Jewish lady, pleading for the rescue of her parents. The black and white cinema photography is a triumph and conveys the horror, brutality, the period and tension perfectly. The acting is on the whole flawless, especially Ralph Fiennes performance as a psychotic Camp Commandant and Ben Kingsley as Itzak Stern. Also impressive is the way the audience is educated about these historical events without the need for documentary and over simplistic story telling techniques. The use of the girl in the red dress is also indicative of the Spielberg"s art of conveying terror in simple and easily comprehendible ways. Whilst the lessons from this film are all too apparent, the sentimental and spoon feeding of the last ten minutes in the Czech factory and outside as Schindler and his wife prepare to flee are the negatives to this otherwise landmark piece of film making. Highly recommended.
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