Brilliant war epic

Rating: 10/10 (27 January 2002)

Five years after "Schindler's List", director Steven Spielberg delivered another powerful motion picture drama, "Saving Private Ryan". This movie (set during WWII) tells the story of a group of soldiers (led by Army captain Tom Hanks) who go into France to find a private who's three brothers were killed in action, and send him home. The opening 30 minute D-Day sequence is one of the most harrowing movie scenes ever filmed. The story is exceptional, the directing is brilliant, and the acting is excellent. Tom Hanks is terrific as usual, and is supported by an outstanding cast which includes Matt Damon ("Good Will Hunting"), Tom Sizemore ("Black Hawk Down"), Edward Burns ("She's the One"), Vin Diesel ("The Fast and the Furious"), Adam Goldberg ("A Beautiful Mind"), Jeremy Davies ("Twister"), Barry Pepper ("61*"), Giovanni Ribisi ("subUrbia"), and Ryan Hurst ("Remember the Titans"). Some of these actors have gone on to bigger things since this movie but they're all good here. Popular TV star Ted Danson (TV's "Cheers" and "Becker") and veteran character actor Dennis Farina ("Midnight Run" and "Get Shorty") even turn up in cameos. "Saving Private Ryan" should have won the Best Picture Oscar for 1998 because it's a war movie that's harrowing and powerful. It did go on to win 5 Oscars including Spielberg's Best Director win. It's one of the best war movies ever made.
**** (out of four)