Unparallelled movie-making

Rating: 10/10 (14 March 2000)

If there ever was a movie that could be described as a tour de force, Saving Private Ryan would be it. From the much-talked-about opening to the concluding battle, Spielberg has combined involving human drama with masterful technical expertise (ranging from bravura camera work to jolting editing) to stunning effect, and Ryan confirms Spielberg's status as the leading director of recent years. While the relatively plotless (but never less than compelling) middle section has attracted criticism, in terms of sheer visceral authenticity and dramatic impact Saving Private Ryan is absolutely peerless. Tom Hanks gives possibly his finest performance yet, and the rest of the cast, despite essentially playing a selection of stereotypes, do admirably well.
Admittedly the battle sequences are quite bloody, and it is not quite as great as the shatteringly unforgettable Schindler's List, but Saving Private Ryan is none the less a towering achievement, and essential viewing.
10/10