Schindler's List1993

98/100 This movie hit differently for me. I don't know why, I certainly don't like it as much as most of the people on here, but emotionally, it registered on a level I think I haven't seen before. The film is very different from other World War II pictures, including Spielberg's earlier Empire of the Sun. It chooses to focus on the angle of a Nazi businessman instead, rather than the Jews. While I would be averse to this, the film does do enough to point out who's really suffering from the regime that I feel it still does a good job. Liam Neeson also does great as Schindler himself, perfectly portraying his arc of going from a businessman who can't see past his bank account to a man dedicated to saving everyone he can. This is also helped along by excellent supporting actors Ben Kingsley and Ralph Fiennes, both equally excellent as a Jewish businessman and the cruel Nazi overseer. Spielberg's cinematography is also excellent here. He restrains his hopeful nature here to deliver some excellent showcases of the brutality, and the black-and-white nature of the film with select objects being coloured is a stroke of genius. However, at times Spielberg is allowed a more hopeful scene, at which he also excels. The only thing I don't like about the movie is the scene with the showers. I felt it was too much of Hollywood showmanship, and that Spielberg let himself loose a bit too much filming such an event in this style. However, the one bad scene is drowned out by what seems like a million good ones. I can't quite articulate the way in which I love this movie, but it's certainly going to be on my mind for a while. An incredible movie, and rightfully known as one of Spielberg's best. A superb film in every way that matters.