Harrowing and very powerful

Rating: 10/10 (28 November 1999)

As the opening sequence begins, you cannot help but have a feeling of dread as the date appears on the screen, "June 6, 1944"
The opening sequence has got to be one of the best put on film. The jarring camera movements, the bullets shooting through the water, the absolute chaos of D-day is masterfully captured. Some people called it uselessly gory, comparing it to "Glory" with its battle scenes. Glory was a great movie, but comparing the Civil War to D-Day isn't the brightest thing to do.
Once we realize the mission, we hear the men complaining, "Why is one life worth risking eight of ours". I wondered that as well, but you soon understand that it isn't the point.
The backlash says that the characters are paper thin, and that the story is s--t. I disagree with both points. All these characters have depth (with the possible exception of Private Ryan). The story, while I agree that the screenplay is not oscar-worthy, is actually not told as a plot story, but as a series of events that take place (D-day, the battle at the hill with the machine gunners, the final battle).
The acting does range, and is not always great. Hanks does give a good performance, in a role that is not his type (aka. not Forrest Gump). Edward Burns does give a good performance, but the two best belong to Tom Sizemore and Jeremy Davies. Davies' meltdown sequence on the staircase left me reeling. I saw it in theatres over a year ago, and on video yesterday, and was stunned about how much detail I remember.
In my opinion, this film is the best of the year (beating A Simple Plan and Elizabeth).