Schindler's List ★★★★ 1993 (R) Spielberg's staggering evocation of the Holocaust finds its voice in Oscar Schindler (Neeson), womanizing German businessman and aspiring war profiteer, who cajoled, bribed, and bullied the Nazis into allowing him to employ Jews in his Polish factories during WWII. By doing so he saved over 1,000 lives. The atrocities are depicted matter of factly as a by-product of sheer Nazi evil. Shot in black and white and powered by splendid performances. Neeson uses his powerful physique as a protective buffer; Kingsley is watchful as his industrious Jewish accountant; and Fiennes personifies evil as Nazi Amon Goeth. Based on the novel by Thomas Keneally, which itself was based on survivor's memories. Filmed on location in Cracow, Poland; due to the sensitive nature of the story, sets of the Auschwitz concentration camp were reconstructed directly outside the camp after protests about filming on the actual site. A tour de force and labor of love for Spielberg, who finally garnered the attention and respect as a filmmaker he deserves. 195m/B VHS, DVD, Wide. Liam Neeson, Ben Kingsley, Ralph Fiennes, Embeth Davidtz, Caroline Goodall, Jonathan Sagalle, Mark Ivanir, Malgoscha Gebel, Shmulik Levy, Beatrice Macola, Andrzej Seweryn, Friedrich von Thun, Norbert Weisser, Michael Schneider, Anna Mucha;
Director:
Steven Spielberg;
Writer:
Steven Zaillian;
Writer:
Janusz Kaminski;
Cameo:
John Williams. Oscars '93: Adapt. Screenplay, Art Dir./Set Dec., Cinematog., Director (Spielberg), Film Editing, Picture, Orig. Score; AFI '98: Top 100; British Acad. '93: Adapt. Screenplay, Director (Spielberg), Film, Support. Actor (Fiennes); Directors Guild '93: Director (Spielberg); Golden Globes '94: Director (Spielberg), Film—Drama, Screenplay; L.A. Film Critics '93: Cinematog., Film; Natl. Bd. of Review '93: Film; N.Y. Film Critics '93: Cinematog., Film, Support. Actor (Fiennes); Natl. Soc. Film Critics '93: Cinematog., Director (Spielberg), Film, Support. Actor (Fiennes); Writers Guild '93: Adapt. Screenplay.
