Schindler's List Movie Review 1993

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.

Distribution

Universal Studios Home Video, 100 Universal City Plz., Universal City, CA 91608-9955, Phone: (818)777-1000, Fax: (818)866-1483, URL: http://www.universalstudios.com, Remarks: Does not handle retail queries from consumers; contact your local video distributor.

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 195 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

True Stories, World War II, Nazis & Other Paramilitary Slugs, This Is Your Life, The Holocaust, Judaism, Concentration/Internment Camps, B/W & Color Combos, 4 Bones

Screenplay

Steven Zaillian

Cast

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

Cinematography

Janusz Kaminski

Director

Steven Spielberg

Music

John Williams

Producer

Steven Spielberg, Gerald R. Molen, Branko Lustig, Kathleen Kennedy, Amblin Entertainment, Mark Huffam

Awards

Oscars 1993: Adapt. Screenplay, Art Dir./Set Dec., Cinematog., Director (Spielberg), Film Editing, Picture, Orig. Score; AFI 1998: Top 100; British Acad. 1993: Adapt. Screenplay, Director (Spielberg), Film, Support. Actor (Fiennes); Directors Guild 1993: Director (Spielberg); Golden Globes 1994: Director (Spielberg), Film--Drama, Screenplay; L.A. Film Critics 1993: Cinematog., Film; Natl. Bd. of Review 1993: Film, Natl. Film Reg. 2004;; N.Y. Film Critics 1993: Cinematog., Film, Support. Actor (Fiennes); Natl. Soc. Film Critics 1993: Cinematog., Director (Spielberg), Film, Support. Actor (Fiennes); Writers Guild 1993: Adapt. Screenplay.