Loved it.

Rating: 10/10 (4 October 1999)

I loved this movie. Not for Tom Hank's Oscar worthy performance, for the riveting tale, or for the shocking realism. Nope, I loved this movie for the actors. I think that as a whole the cast did an incredible job filling the shoes they were given. First and foremost, was anyone else absolutely taken by Barry Pepper as Private Roy Jackson? Ever since seeing this movie I have been glued to my computer watching his fan website for updates on magazine articles and Barry sightings. This guy is one to pay attention to, he is definitely going to be big. Those cutting eyes say it all. Second, Giovanni Ribisi. His sleepy stare combined with his sensitivity make any one swoon. This isn't just a phenomenon for Mr. Ribisi, either. In every other movie he has had a major role in, he has taken over the screen. How about Edward Burns? Granted, he does play a New Yorker with an attitude in almost all of his films, but he does it so well we can forgive him for that. This cynical beauty of a guy plays the quintissential smart mouth that we love to hate, and love to love. I wouldn't mind being the butt of some of his cutting jokes. And how about young Vin Diesel who plays the ill-fated Private Adrien Caparzo. Though he doesn't make it very far into the movie, he makes a great impression. I don't know whether I can't get past his great body or his heart melting voice. And then there's Adam Goldberg. A talent to be reckoned with. This guy plays the good smart allick. The flip side to Edward Burns' biting character, this one is the nice-jerk. I just hope that Goldberg doesn't get type-cast as the token Jewish guy. It would sure be a shame, this guy can work the camera. And what about Jeremy Davies who played Umpum? I find it hard to comment on him. It is largely due to the fact that I can't bring myself to like him. It is not his fault, he was only playing a character. Was anyone else out there screaming mad when he made it through the final battle? I would have traded him for Wade (Ribisi) or Pepper (Jackson) any day. And was anyone else ready to burst into tears of sorrow when we had to bid farewell to both our luscious, silent but gorgeous types?