One of the biggest upsets in Oscar history!

Rating: 10/10 (11 April 2013)

'SAVING PRIVATE RYAN': Five Stars (Out of Five)
Steven Spielberg's epic World War II film (from 1998) earned him his second Academy Award for Best Director although it failed to win best picture (being robbed by 'SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE') in one of the biggest upsets in Oscar history and certainly my lifetime (next to maybe 'CRASH' beating out 'BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN' in 2006). It's still considered one of the greatest and most realistic war films ever made though, being praised most of all for it's opening 27 minute 'Normandy Landings' scene (which was named "best battle scene of all time" by Empire magazine). It's one of my favorite war and Spielberg movies ever and probably my favorite film of 1998!
The film was written by Robert Rodat and inspired by a monument, memorializing soldiers killed in battle from the Civil War to Vietnam, which lists eight siblings killed in the American Civil War. 'SAVING PRIVATE RYAN' revolves around a soldier, Private James Ryan (Matt Damon), who's three brothers are all killed in World War II. In order to relieve distress to his mother Army Chief of Staff, George C. Marshall (Harve Presnell), orders eight soldiers to find Ryan and bring him home to safety. They're lead by Captain Miller (Tom Hanks), who just survived the Normandy Landings. Tom Sizemore, Edward Burns, Giovanni Ribisi, Jeremy Davies, Adam Goldberg, Barry Pepper and Vin Diesel play the other seven soldiers.
The film was criticized by some, including filmmaker Oliver Stone, who felt movies like it helped influence the Iraq War (due to World War II being portrayed as 'the good war'). I don't really agree with that assessment but I can see their point. The movie is a masterpiece in my opinion and I think everyone should see it as a tribute to all the soldiers who've died in war. The first time I saw it in the theater was one of the most memorable film going experiences of my life. Who could ever forget those opening 27 minutes (it portrays one of the most nightmarish images ever caught on film)! I think this movie is Spielberg at his very best (in my opinion it's a greater achievement than 'SCHINDLER'S LIST' even). To say I like it more than his more fun movies like 'JAWS', 'E.T.' or the 'INDIANA JONES' series would probably be a lie but it is a more important film and one of the very best of 1998 (definitely better than 'SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE').
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