Masterful direction, slow moments flanked by some of the greatest war sequences ever put to film.

Rating: 8/10 (15 March 2020)

Exceptional direction on part of Spielberg, especially in the action sequences at the start and to the end of the film. Relentlessly paced and edited. Grand and faithful productions. Brutal war imagery. The violence does not feel like a glorification of war, but rather an accurate, lurid depiction of the reality of war that many prefer to eschew and forget. Great acting from Tom Hanks, who shines amongst a myriad of subpar actors, except for Matt Damon and Jeremy Davies, who blossoms late with incredible acting range as Upham.
This film peaks very high, but it is also hindered by a lackluster middle part and a few significant flaws. The Spielberg directorial flare, while bringing a healthy does of uplifiting moments, can also do harm to the film narrative. Some scenes are rather cheesy and the characters move and act unnaturally, quite like chess pieces in the hands of a very stylish player. The script is average. I am not a fan of a lot of dialogue choices, a notable example being the last few lines of the film, where a previously silent character delivers a few unnecessary lines that would have played better and make the moment more emotional had he remained that way. Despite following the "show not tell" rule rather loosely, I can give the film credit for pleasing general audiences who would prefer more clarity and guidance in their viewing experience, especially since the film hits hard when it wants to hit hard.
The D-day scene lives on as one of the greatest achievements in modern cinema, but the praise does not stop there. The almost 3 hour long epic is an eye-opener filled with great moments that certified Spielberg as a quite unique dramatic filmmaker, and it ranks as one of his best in his illustrous oeuvre.