by Chris Marshall:
Steven Spielberg is one of the greatest directors of all time,
and I think it’s unfortunate that, at least in some circles, his contributions
to cinema aren’t appreciated to the fullest extent. I think most people enjoy
his movies, but he’s not often considered as one of the top “artistic” auteurs
in the medium. Perhaps there’s some truth to that, but when you have a filmography
like his, it’s impossible not to acknowledge his genius.
I believe this lack of universal respect for his artistry is
the main reason why only one of his movies has won Best Picture. He’s considered
more of a populist director, and while many of his biggest blockbusters have
been nominated, only Schindler’s List
took home the top prize, likely because it is an “important” movie in addition
to just being a great one. Just to be clear, I am taking nothing away from Schindler’s List; it is brilliant, but I
wish his more “fun” films garnered more respect.
Anyway, about the movie. I assume it’s a movie where, even
if not everybody has seen it, at least everybody knows what it’s about. It is a
holocaust film, yes, but more than that, it’s about a man who dared to take
action, at great personal risk, in an attempt to save the lives of more than
1,000 Jews.
