World War II has always been thought of as
perhaps the only good war, the one war where
Americans were clearly in the right. From
a geopolitical viewpoint, this was the case:
Hitler and Tojo had to be stopped, or they
would conquer the world.
One message of "Saving Private Ryan", however,
is that things were different on the front
lines. The American and the German soldiers
were determined to kill each other, and there
was no moral difference between them. This
is reinforced by several scenes of German
soldiers surrendering and then getting shot.
Another message is that combat deaths are
not quick and bloodless. We've all seen
the war movies where the guy is shot, then
immediately drops like a bloodless cadaver.
In "Saving Private Ryan", however, death
takes its time. Soldiers are seen trying
to hold their guts in, while screaming for
Mama. One soldier has his arm blown off,
then stoops down to pick it up. For director
Steven Spielberg, there is no good war,
even when it is necessary.
The cast is exemplary and the cinematography
is very good, aided by the huge sets made
possible by an enormous budget. But many
front-line battle scenes have a familar look,
as film soldiers have fought and died for a
small piece of turf since 1925's "The Big
Parade". I still feel that 1930's "All Quiet
on the Western Front" is the best anti-war
film, and I also prefer Kubrick's "Full
Metal Jacket" and even "The Longest Day", which while stagey is more ambitious.
Tom Hanks stars as an Army Captain whose
company fights hard and has a high mortality
rate. Hanks, who is usually cast in softer
roles that take advantage of his likability,
is effective here as a soldier more interested
in winning the war than in winning friends.
He is given the assignment of rescuing Private
Ryan (Matt Damon), a parachuter trapped behind
enemy lines. Ryan is to be saved as a public
relations gesture, after his three brothers all
died in combat. Other soldiers have credible
and refreshingly non-exaggerated characters.
These include translator Upham (Jeremy Davies),
who is untrained as a soldier and clueless as
a result.
"Saving Private Ryan" was nominated for 11
Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best
Actor (Hanks) and Best Original Screenplay
(Robert Rodat). It won five Awards including
Best Director (Spielberg) and Best Cinematography
(Janusz Kaminski). (63/100)
Director Steven Spielberg's World War II tour de force chronicles the journey of a GI squad on a dangerous mission behind enemy lines. Led by Captain ...More at Family Video
Internationally acclaimed by critics and audiences alike, Steven Spielberg s Saving Private Ryan is an unforgettable film achievement that has had pro...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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