Review Saving Private Ryan

Rating: 5/10 (12 May 2014)

Living the war with Private Ryan.
"Saving Private Ryan" is a fantastic film by Steven Spielberg and written by Robert Rodatin colors which was produced in 1998 in America. It's a wonderful war, drama and action film about World War II. We find such well-known actors as Tom Hanks (playing the role of Captain John Miller), Tom Sizemore (playing the role of Sergeant Michael Horvath), Edward Burns (as Private Reiben), Barry Pepper (as Private Jackson), Matt Damon (as the role of Private Ryan), Adam Goldberg (as Private Mallish) and Vin Diesel as Private Caparzo.
While the Allied Force land to Omaha Beach, Miller has to lead his platoon behind the enemy lines for a dangerous mission : find and return safe and sound Private James Francis Ryan, who's got three brothers who died in the fight within three days. While the platoon progresses on enemy territory, Miller's men wonder themselves : is it necessary to risk the life of eight men to save the only one from it ? The acting presence of the actors is successful, we feel different emotions with actors, the pain when, for instance, two policemen announce to Mrs. Ryan that her three sons are dead. There is no dialogue and it makes us understand that there are no words to talk about death. We can't put some words, some "good" words not to destroy somebody to soften the pain. Steven Spielberg Reveals that. We can see this old woman falling down on the ground, devastated and this scene tear our heart. Sometimes, the camera zooms on a soldier's face and we feel deeply in our chest that they are petrified and they transmit this feeling very well.
This film is visually breath-taking, because of the landscapes and the sets are so realistic that we lose ourselves in them and live , discover the atrocities of the war at the same time as the soldiers. We follow them, we belong to the platoon. And on top of that, sometimes we are surprised to hear an explosion, to see the ground explode as fireworks, as if it were next to us. It permits the spectator to live the war as never. We are both an actor and a soldier.
The story line is down-to-earth : first, there is no love story like in "Pear Harbor" which gives a "sweet side" to the story. Here, there are only blood, bravery, brotherhood, fights and a duty to fulfill. It permits the spectator to really know what happened during D-Day. Moreover, even the good characters die, some scenes are violent, for instance, when a German stabs a Jew very slowly to make him suffer because it's important to say that during World War II, Germans tried to eliminate all the Jews : it's called a genocide. This film doesn't hide the reality of war.
But this beautiful and fantastic film reveals something about soldiers during World War II : they were both loving and ruthless. They are presented as survivors and heroes (soldiers are always filmed with the high angle shot except when they are crying or dying because at this moment they are weak), respectful men, brave because they face danger even if they are afraid because they are willing to fulfill their duty for their country, wives and children. And we can see this at the beginning of the film when the American soldiers land to Normandy. Tom Hanks appears totally lost, his helmet on the floor, he discovers the nightmare of war. He could have given up, but we can finally see a light of determination on his eyes and all of a sudden, he catches his helmet and put it on his head : he really wants to achieve his duty. He's courageous. Soldiers also appear self-sacrificing and brotherhood is highlighted in this film. Because they landed together and they will come back home together, no matter what The music by John Williams contributes to release feelings deep in the chest of the spectator. And music is useful to carve the image of the soldier. We have a patriotic music when, for instance, a soldier talks about his life at home with his family, to show that they are heroes and that they will come back home or to show that they had to leave them behind to accomplish their duty for the country. So the spectator is totally overwhelmed with feelings thanks to music which makes soldiers appear both brave and heart-broken because they miss their family. And we can identify ourselves to them ; it's a very moving film which turns our hearts upside down.
This film received two awards : in 1999, Steven Spielberg got a Golden Globe for the Best Director of a Motion Picture with "Saving Private Ryan". Then, in 1999, the film "Saving Private Ryan" received a Golden Globe for the best Motion Picture. Moreover, the film received some good critics : The New York Times said "This film simply looks at war as if war had not been looked at before." Which was very positive. In The city Review, Carter B. Horsley said "With extreme gore, deep sincerity, fabulous cinematography and great acting, "Saving Private Ryan" is a stupendous movie.".
"Saving Private Ryan" is a film which remains important in time, it echoes to the past, without lies. It presents World War II soldiers as self-sacrificing heroes and they can be fathers, brothers too : they have a heart. "Saving Private Ryan" will never stop moving us and make us admire what soldiers did, to help us to live in the world that we know nowadays.
By Sangiorgio Marine.