SPIELBERG'S BEST!

Rating: 10/10 (22 December 2002)

After I saw SCHINDLER'S LIST, I didn't think Stephen Speilberg could top himself. This man is such an incredible director who has given us such classics as RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND, E.T. and now SAVING PRIVATE RYAN.
I still can't understand how this film did not win Best Picture in 1999. (SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE won) This movie is very violent, but it is violence that is needed to tell the story and make the story realistic. From the opening battle of Normandy, you feel like you are right there on the beach in the battle.
The performances in this movie are outstanding. This is Tom Hanks in his best role since FORREST GUMP as the leader of the platoon assigned to find Private Ryan. One of the performances that was underrated was that of Jeremy Davies who played Corporal Upham who makes a fatal mistake with a German officer that comes back to haunt him. Edward Burns was teriffic as well as Private Reiben, who wonders out loud why risk the lives of several men to save one. Tom Siezmore is equally as brilliant as Tom Hanks' #1 man. Even Matt Damon, who I normally do not like, was outstanding.

This is such a terrific film because the characters are developed so well and you feel like you know them by the time the movie is over. The battle scenes are outstanding as well. This is the best war movie I have ever seen.

I give SAVING PRIVATE RYAN four stars. (out of four)