Enemy at the Gates (2001)

A Russian sniper and a German sniper play a game of cat-and-mouse during the Battle of Stalingrad.

Director:

Jean-Jacques Annaud

Writers:

Jean-Jacques Annaud, Alain Godard

Stars:

Jude Law, Ed Harris, Rachel Weisz

6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jude Law	...	Vassili Zaitsev
Ed Harris	...	Major König
Rachel Weisz	...	Tania Chernova
Joseph Fiennes	...	Commisar Danilov
Bob Hoskins	...	Nikita Khrushchev
Ron Perlman	...	Koulikov
Eva Mattes	...	Mother Filipov
Gabriel Thomson	...	Sacha Filipov (as Gabriel Marshall-Thomson)
Matthias Habich	...	General Paulus
Sophie Rois	...	Ludmilla
Ivan Shvedoff	...	Volodya
Mario Bandi	...	Anton
Hans Martin Stier	...	Red Army General
Clemens Schick	...	German NCO (as Clemans Schick)
Mikhail Matveev	...	Grandfather

Storyline

During the WWII battle of Stalingrad, two snipers, a Russian, and a German, are locked in a battle of wills and marksmanship, while the Russian is boosted to the status of hero by a political official.

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Plot Keywords:

russian | german | sniper | battle | stalingrad | 

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Taglines:

A single bullet can change history.

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Genres:

Drama | History | Thriller | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong graphic war violence and some sexuality

Details

Country:

USA Germany UK Ireland

Language:

English German Russian

Release Date:

16 March 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

Enemigo al acecho

Filming Locations:

Babelsberg, Potsdam, Brandenburg, Germany

Box Office

Budget:

$68,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£1,033,164 (UK) (16 March 2001)

Gross:

$51,396,781 (USA) (6 July 2001)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures, Mandalay Pictures, KC Medien

Technical Specs

Runtime:

131 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Joseph Fiennes was the first actor cast.

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Goofs

When Vasily and Danilov arrive at the banquet with Nikita Khrushchev, the Soviet National Anthem can be heard playing in the background. This anthem was not adopted until early 1944, just over a year after that scene takes place.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Grandfather: [whispering to boy aiming rifle] I am a stone. I do not move. Very slowly, I put snow in my mouth. Then he won't see my breath. I take my time. I let him come closer. I have only one bullet. I aim at his eye. Very gently, my finger presses on the trigger. I do not tremble. I have no fear. I'm a big boy now. Ready Vassili? Now, Vassili, fire!

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Crazy Credits

The end credits are slanted and curved

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Connections

Referenced in Omkara (2006)

User Reviews

Wanted: Fine looking film seeks convincing actor

This movie started off with something of a bang and ended as a pathetic whimper - and in all honesty the middle was slow and torturous. Although Joseph Fienes made a reasonable effort as the ambitious love sick officer, his performance was completely nullified by Jude Law and Rachel Weisz exchanging hot glances and ladelling out their lines in a sort of South London British accent. Suspension of Disbelief was away on the Western front drinking French wine and chasing the girls. Perhaps the most appalling delivery was given by Eva Mattes (Mrs Fillipov) who was not only wooden and stilted but also fell pray to the lame brained idea that Russians are all British citizens who went on holiday and overshot Spain. The only one to really shine in the movie was Ed Harris who brings off the role of the cold blooded marksman with some style. Kudos to the casting agent who signed him on. The special effects were outstanding and I must say the battle sequences were shocking and believable, however they were too few to paper over the cracks. For most of the movie I was wondering where they had left the war. The love interest, the family drama, the personal issues ... all very diversionary but I went to see a war movie.