Latest news with #StevenZaillian
Edinburgh Live
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Steven Spielberg's 'best movie he's ever made' streaming now on Netflix
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Steven Spielberg regards Schindler's List as the pinnacle of his filmmaking career. With an impressive approval rating of 98 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes, it's hard to argue with that sentiment. The film, shot in stark black-and-white akin to a documentary, is the epic 1993 historical war drama directed and produced by Steven Spielberg, with the screenplay penned by Steven Zaillian based on Thomas Keneally's 1982 novel Schindler's Ark. Steven Spielberg and Steven Zaillian dedicated a significant amount of time to research before commencing filming on March 1, 1993. In a conversation with Inside Film, Steven Spielberg shared insights into the extensive research for Schindler's List: "I interviewed survivors, I went to Poland, saw the cities and spent time with the people and spoke to the Jews who had come back to Poland after the war and talked about why they had come back. I spent more research time on this project than I had on any previous film, but of course my films were never based on anything that actually happened." He expressed his commitment to visiting Poland for inspiration, stating: "So, I was enthusiastic about going to Poland. I needed to go for inspiration. "I only knew Schindler's List from the novel and now I wanted to know it from the survivors and from the actual historical landmarks. So, I went there for that reason. "And I came back as excited as I've ever been about a subject that doesn't excite me, but pains me." Schindler's List hit US cinemas on December 15, 1993, before debuting in the UK on February 18, 1994. (Image: Archives) The powerful narrative follows Oskar Schindler, a German industrialist who becomes an unexpected saviour during the Holocaust by employing over a thousand mostly Polish-Jewish refugees in his factories, reports the Express. Liam Neeson portrays Schindler, with Ralph Fiennes as SS officer Amon Göth and Ben Kingsley as Itzhak Stern, Schindler's Jewish accountant. Schindler's List has become an iconic Steven Spielberg film, lauded as one of cinema's most significant works. Scooping seven Oscars including Best Picture and Best Director, the movie is often described as a cinematic masterpiece. Reflecting on Schindler's List in a 2024 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, commemorating the film's 30th anniversary, Steven Spielberg expressed: "It's the best movie I've ever made. I am not going to say it's the best movie I ever will make. "But currently, it's the work I'm proudest of." The film was universally praised by both critics and viewers when released. One critic noted: "Spielberg employs all the emotive Hollywood tools at his disposal and the result is a remarkable film with wide appeal and real importance. Neeson is phenomenal, but matched by towering performances from Ben Kingsley and Ralph Fiennes." One critic praised the film as a standout in Steven Spielberg's career: "The film's epic sweep and grasp of detail are exemplary, while some scenes could make even a lump of granite weep. This is Spielberg's most grown-up film." Another review lauded the film's scope and impact: "Few American movies since the silent era have had anything approaching this picture's narrative boldness, visual audacity, and emotional directness." A further review lavished praise on Steven Spielberg's directorial skills: "For this film Spielberg has done the best directing of his career. Much of his previous work has been clever and some of it better than that, but Schindler's List is masterly." Schindler's List is available to stream on Netflix.
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Steven Spielberg's 'best ever' film is now available to stream on Netflix
It is considered to be the acclaimed director's best movie Steven Spielberg regards Schindler's List as his finest directorial achievement. The film boasts an impressive 98 per cent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, underscoring its critical acclaim. Filmed in a stark black-and-white style reminiscent of a documentary, the powerful 1993 historical war drama was directed and produced by Steven Spielberg, with Steven Zaillian responsible for the screenplay. The movie is an adaptation of Thomas Keneally's 1982 novel Schindler's Ark, reports the Express. Steven Spielberg and Steven Zaillian dedicated considerable time to research before commencing filming on March 1, 1993. In a conversation with Inside Film, Steven Spielberg detailed the extensive research undertaken for Schindler's List: "I interviewed survivors, I went to Poland, saw the cities and spent time with the people and spoke to the Jews who had come back to Poland after the war and talked about why they had come back. "I spent more research time on this project than I had on any previous film, but of course my films were never based on anything that actually happened." He continued, expressing his motivation for visiting Poland: "So, I was enthusiastic about going to Poland. "I needed to go for inspiration. I only knew Schindler's List from the novel and now I wanted to know it from the survivors and from the actual historical landmarks. "So, I went there for that reason. And I came back as excited as I've ever been about a subject that doesn't excite me, but pains me." Released in the United States on 15 December 1993, and arriving in UK cinemas on 18 February 1994, Schindler's List tells the poignant tale of Oskar Schindler. He was a German industrialist whose humanity led him to employ and consequently save the lives of over a thousand predominantly Polish-Jewish refugees from the horrors of the Holocaust during the reign of the Second World War. Featuring a stellar cast with Liam Neeson portraying Schindler, Ralph Fiennes as the infamous SS officer Amon Göth, and Ben Kingsley as Schindler's Jewish accountant Itzhak Stern, Schindler's List stands tall as one of the most influential films ever made, not only within Steven Spielberg's repertoire but across the annals of cinematic history. The film's significant impact was recognised with an impressive bounty of seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. Celebrating the film's landmark 30th anniversary during a 2024 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Spielberg affirmed: "It's the best movie I've ever made. I am not going to say it's the best movie I ever will make. But currently, it's the work I'm proudest of." Critics and audiences universally acclaimed Schindler's List for its gravitas and its powerful storytelling. One critic remarked: "Spielberg employs all the emotive "Hollywood tools at his disposal and the result is a remarkable film with wide appeal and real importance. Neeson is phenomenal, but matched by towering performances from Ben Kingsley and Ralph Fiennes." One critic described it as the director's most mature work: "The film's epic sweep and grasp of detail are exemplary, while some scenes could make even a lump of granite weep. This is Spielberg's most grown-up film." Another review praised the film's storytelling, visuals, and emotional impact: "Few American movies since the silent era have had anything approaching this picture's narrative boldness, visual audacity, and emotional directness." A further review highlighted Steven Spielberg's outstanding direction: "For this film Spielberg has done the best directing of his career. "Much of his previous work has been clever and some of it better than that, but Schindler's List is masterly."
