The first in a series of World War II movies this year and the critics juggernaut as the mortal lock for Best Picture of 1998, Saving Private Ryan gives The Truman Show its first competition (and probably a competition that is too overwhelming). A realistic (and I mean realistic, not for the faint of heart or stomach... and especially not for children) portrayal of the hell that is war, Saving Private Ryan is the only "must see" of 1998.
Sergeant Horvath (Tom Sizemore) and Captain John Miller (Tom Hanks)
The plot begins as the landing boats for D-Day are plowing through the choppy waters of the English Channel on their way to Omaha Beach and the most important battle of the European Theater. As we focus in on Captain John Miller (Tom Hanks) as he prepares to lead his platoon onto the beach we see his hands shaking uncontrollably, a trait we will see through the whole film. After the doors open on the first boat to land its occupants are riddled with bullets from the German machine guns up on the cliffs. The next twenty minutes or so leave no doubt that Steven Spielberg spared no detail of was as we see young men charge up the beach as their friends and compatriots are shot in the head, blown in half or just plain shredded with bullets. After the smoke has settled from this bloody scene Captain Miller and his second in command, Sergeant Horvath (Tom Sizemore) relax for a bit before receiving their newest orders. At this point they discover that three brothers from a small town in Iowa have been killed within a few days of each other and that their mother has just received the telegrams for all three. Not only that but the youngest of these brothers, James Ryan (Matt Damon), is missing after parachuting behind enemy lines the evening before D-Day. Captain Miller and his platoon are to find Private Ryan and deliver the message that he has a ticket home. Miller's platoon find Ryan after a lot of searching, and a few run-ins with some Nazis only to have to defend a a very important bridge from a German attack.
Captain Miller finds Private Ryan (Matt Damon)
And thus ends what is by far the weakest part of this film, the plot. You may not believe that this is all that is to the story of the movie that is being heralded by everybody (including me) as one of the best, if not the best movie of 1998, but that is truely all their is to it. But, what is lacking in the story is made up by every other aspect of the film. The acting is superb, especially Tom Hanks. Almost everyone has seen the range that Tom Hanks can show and the talent he has, but I was still in awe of his incredible performance that makes him almost unreachable for every Best Actor award that will be given this year. His supporting cast is also spectacular, from Sizemore and Damon to the lesser supporting characters of Medic Wade (Giovanni Ribisi) and Private Mellish (Adam Goldberg) the actors of this movie succeded in portraying young men coming within inches of death every day... young men who are scared to death but have to be brave. But as incredible as the acting is, it is nothing compared to the directing and cinematography. Steven Spielberg took a story that was weak at best and turned it into one of the most dramatic movies ever. The way he shot the battle scenes, including all the gore and blood without glorifying it like so many other war movies have done, will simple take your breath away (sometimes because it is so gruesome, but almost always because it is so good). All of this comes together to make Saving Private Ryan one spectacular film and a definite must see.
