Rachel Weisz Reveals The Movie She Hated Every Second Of
Even A-list actors have projects they'd rather forget. For Rachel Weisz, one star-studded war epic stands out as a major disappointment. Despite a powerhouse cast and a promising story, the actress found herself stuck on a set with a script she knew was failing from the start.
Not every project an actor signs on for turns out to be a winner. Even the most celebrated stars have a few films in their past they wish they could do over. The reality of Hollywood is that it's a gamble; a movie with a great cast and a solid premise can still end up being a total dud. Rachel Weisz learned this firsthand when she found herself committed to a production that just wasn't living up to its promise. While the English actress handled the situation professionally, she was far from thrilled about the experience. Sometimes, you can't just walk away from a film, you have to accept it wasn't your best work and hope for something better next time.
A Star-Studded Disappointment
The specific film she admitted “didn’t work for me,” according to the Associated Press, was 2001's *Enemy at the Gates*. Directed by French filmmaker Jean-Jacques Annaud, the movie had all the ingredients for success but ultimately fell short. The critical reception was lukewarm, but Weisz herself was especially critical of the production, hinting at a sense of regret.
The film boasted an impressive lineup, including Jude Law, Ed Harris, Bob Hoskins, and Ron Perlman. However, even that level of talent wasn't enough to elevate the project to greatness. Based on the book *Enemy at the Gates: The Battle for Stalingrad*, the movie seemed to crumble under its own ambition. Famed film critic Roger Ebert pointed out a lack of focus on the war itself, writing, “The additional plot stuff and the romance are kind of a shame.”
A 'Dodgy' Script and Lasting Regret
For Weisz, the movie simply missed the mark. She was particularly let down by her role as Tania Chernova, a real-life ballerina who became a sniper. “But then, I’m very hard to please. The opening 20 minutes were amazing, [but] the script was a bit dodgy,” she explained. It's a common story in filmmaking: a project starts with a bang but fizzles out into an underwhelming final product. The responsibility falls to the director, not the actors, you just have to see it through.
While *Enemy at the Gates* is one of the few clear missteps in Weisz's career, the animated film *Eragon* might take the prize for her worst-reviewed movie. Fortunately for her, it was only a voice role, so many viewers likely never knew she was involved. The reviews were so scathing that plans for a sequel were quickly abandoned. Still, for Weisz, it seems *Enemy at the Gates* remains her most memorable professional letdown. When you're handed a weak screenplay, you can only do so much, and it appears the actress did her best while remaining unhappy with the outcome.