THE War Film

Rating: 10/10 (18 April 2018)

This, in a long list of big films, is probably Spielberg's greatest accomplishment. It has so much heart, humanity, and raw drama that it will most likely be in the top tier of films for all time. It's just spectacular in every way. It throws you into the biggest armed conflict of our time while deftly and carefully drawing you into a very intimate story that puts many aspects of the war into perspective.
Reviewing a war film is difficult for someone who has never been in one. I don't think any serious critic would pretend to know what it's like to be in such a horrifying event. I think the best you can do is speculate, and even then, you risk treading on some serious ground by giving such films a review.
That being said, the film looks, feels, sounds, and moves perfectly from start to finish. Technically, it's a masterpiece. The lesser-known stars give as good of a performance as the big-name actors, which is a sign of terrific directing. The personal story-line weaves effortlessly within the big drama of the war, and the whole thing is written beautifully.
As I'm writing this, I can think of no flaws. Some people give Spielberg a hard time by being overly sentimental, but I just don't see it in SPR. The emotions all seem appropriate for the environment. The action is riveting and often brutal. Characters fall of the radar quickly. The war is overwhelming. It all makes sense in context.
The best films are like statues; solid, powerful, and eternal. This one will stand for a long time. Even if lot's of Spielberg's films get taken down a notch for sentimentality and overblown spectacle-making, this one won't, and never will.