Sunday Mail
March 11, 2001

In a nutshell, what's it about?

The battle of Stalingrad in 1942. The city has been reduced to rubble and Russian morale is at its lowest ebb. It seems only a matter of time before the Germans emerge victorious from the devastation. But the Russians are determined to battle on and, to raise troop morale, a hero has to be found. He's Vassili Zaitsev, a deadly sniper who stalks his targets through the rubble and ruins. Eventually Zaitsev's fame causes the Germans to send their own marskman, Major Konig, into the fray. The two carry out their own private war in the midst of the mayhem of Stalingrad.

Who's in it?

Three of the sexiest members of the Brit pack... Jude Law, red-hot after The Talented Mr Ripley and the soon-to-be seen Steven Spielberg movie AI, is Zaitsev. Joseph Fiennes plays the propaganda officer who turns the Soviet shooter into a national hero and Rachel Weisz is the girl soldier who falls for the sniper. Ed Harris - Oscar nominated for Pollock - is Konig, while Bob Hoskins turns up as Nikita Krushchev, who is in charge of the Soviet forces at Stalingrad.

So is Enemy At The Gates a stirring saga of World War II or dull drama?

It was shot outside Berlin and is one of the most expensive movies ever filmed in Europe. The battle sequences are staggering, but the flaw is the interplay between the principal characters... we don't care much about them. Still, fans of Jude Law won't be disappointed by their heart- throb's first outing as an action hero.

And what did the stars make of their war roles?

They were trained in the use of weapons and military behaviour until it looked as though they were at home with guns. The biggest hassle was the mud in which they filmed day after day as director Jean-Jacques Annaud recreated the horrors of Stalingrad. The stars claim that despite lots of baths and showers the grime just wouldn't wash away.

So how does a cast of Brits and an American sound as Russians and Germans?

It was decided they would not talk 'like zis.' The stars used their own accents to avoid the film sounding like a series of Euro cliches.

Why was it decided to film the battle of Stalingrad in Germany?

The film makers trekked across Europe for locations. They considered Russia, Romania, Lithuania, Poland, the Czech Republic and even Britain. But they decided Germany was best suited and, even though it might have been controversial, set their cameras rolling. The effect is pretty stunning.

What was the reason for casting Jude Law as the heroic Russian?

According to Jean-Jacques Annaud, who saw Jude in a rough cut of The Talented Mr Ripley, he was perfect to play 'the perfect hero.' Annaud said: "I found Jude very charismatic. There is a fierce intelligence and liveliness in his eyes, yet he can be incredibly quiet and internal. And it was obvious from the start he understood the character of Vassili."

Quote for the poster?

Jude Law's gunning for you.