Vassili Zaitsev: Jude Law	Danilov: Joseph Fiennes
Tania: Rachel Weisz	Nikita Krushchev: Bob Hoskins
Sasha: Gabriel Thomson	Major Konig: Ed Harris
Koulikov: Ron Perlman	Mother Filipov: Eva Mattes
Director: Jean-Jacques Annaud

30 Second Bottom Line: A Russian peasant-turned-sniper becomes famous by killing Nazi officers during the siege of Stalingrad in 1942. He is such a valuable propaganda tool that the Germans dispatch their own sharpshooter to take him out.

Story Line: Hitler wanted control of the Russian city of Stalingrad because it would give him the momentum to win the war. Stalin was likewise determined to maintain his leadership of the city. The film opens with the intensity of Saving Private Ryan, showing the brutality of war. Here it's up close and personal, with German planes flying in low to strike boatloads of Russian soldiers with bombs and machine gun fire. Bodies float in the bloody water, some shot by their own Russian officers, if a soldier dived into the water and was thought to be deserting. Although the Russians were out gunned, their orders were to literally be "cannon fodder" to keep the Germans from owning the city.

Vassili (Jude Law) meets Danilov (Joseph Fiennes) as they are playing possum among a sea of dead soldiers in the Town Square. Danilov wants to kill some Germans, but like most political officers, his marksmanship skills are limited. Vassili grew up on a farm shooting wolves and he learned the art of camouflage, to be still and use your environment to operate undetected. After killing several German soldiers, Vassili blends back into nothingness, until Danilov, in a meeting with other political officers, tells Nikita Krushchev (Bob Hoskins) that by making Vassili a hero, they will give hope to the demoralized Russian people.

Tania (Rachel Weisz), a native Jew, works at the Russian Headquarters and catches the eye of both Vassili and Danilov. After she learns the Nazis have killed her parents, she convinces Danilov to assign her to a sniper unit. Her new job brings her closer to Vassili, at a time when Danilov is becoming infatuated with her.

The plan implemented by the Nazis is to bring in the director of their sniper school, Major Konig (Ed Harris), to kill Vassili. Both men use every trick in the book to trap and evade one another. Major Konig has the upper hand, as he is more experienced and treacherous; while Vassili, although very good, feels it's just a matter of time before he loses their battle of wits.

Sasha (Gabriel Thomson), a young boy who is about 10 years old, plays the role of a double agent which is unusual for one so young. He gives the Germans valuable data mixed with misinformation so that he can get fresh cured bacon and chocolate bars…both true delicacies in the war torn city. However, since he is a Russian, he also passes information to Vassili and Danilov so that even if they walk into a trap, they still may have a chance.

Tell Me More About It: The cast in the film is strong in every role. Learning some of the techniques used by snipers is enlightening. Normally you think that if you have to expose yourself in an open area, as in police raids, the first man in has the highest risk. Here, it's just the opposite. The first man out has the best chance of making it because of the element of surprise while the snipers are trying to get a bead on you.

The one sex scene is quite original, and while it may make you feel somewhat uncomfortable, it's not because of the limited nudity or passion, but that under the circumstances, they are making love at all.

One or two changes in how the movie was made may have elevated it from a very good film to one that was as impressive as Sunshine, my # 1 film for the year 2000. The first item is that the film should have been in Russian and German with subtitles. After all, this is a film about Russians and Germans, not Americans who speak English. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon played mainstream at the megaplex; this could have as well. The second idea is not to have such a cute ending. That said, so many bad things happen to people from the start right up until the end, that there is merit to a conclusion with a tone of hopefulness.

The battle scenes are impressive and "entertaining." It brings to mind that it seems to be such a waste of human life, as we saw in the days of the Roman Empire in the film Gladiator. What's sad is that we thought they were barbaric. That was 2000 years ago and WWII was only 60 years back. It makes you wonder what forces might be at work to bring us to that level of violence again. Man's inhumanity to man, if not on the surface, is never very far away.

Jude Law: The Talented Mr. Ripley	Joseph Fiennes: Elizabeth
Rachel Weisz: Sunshine	Bob Hoskins: Let the Good Times Roll
Gabriel Thomson: My Family-TV	Ed Harris: Pollock
Ron Perlman: Price of Glory	Eva Mattes: Widows
Jean-Jacques Annaud: Seven Years in Tibet