Review of Saving Private Ryan (1998) by Hector C — 06 Jan 2013

Saving Private Ryan follows Tom Hanks as United States Army Rangers Captain John H. Miller and seven other soldiers (Tom Sizemore, Edward Burns, Barry Pepper, Vin Diesel, Giovanni Ribisi, Adam Goldberg, and Jeremy Davies) as they search for a paratrooper, Private First Class James Francis Ryan (Matt Damon), who is the last-surviving brother of four servicemen.

The first thing you notice when you are watching Saving Private Ryan is the booming big band backing music written by possibly the best in the business, John Williams; whose music somehow dramatizes the fabulous action sequences even more than they already are.

The brilliantly realistic and rather gruesome and bloody portrayal of war is what makes Saving Private Ryan is what makes this epic war film, starring Tom Hanks, Giovanni Ribisi, Vin Diesel, Matt Damon, Barry Pepper and Jeremy Davies, who, along with Hanks, delivers a near perfect performance, a big hit.

On the other hand, the violence and the performances are the only positives about this film. Because the plot sort of goes AWOL; as the search for Private Ryan ends with an hour remaining. The last hour is mostly dialogue relating to pre-war experiences that, whilst it makes viewers realize how isolated the war was, in my opinion just isnâ(TM)t needed.

Yet nonetheless you will forget the lousiness of the extended period of talking almost the moment it ends, as a rather extended battle scene unfolds. And, by the way, this is a battle that will undoubtedly re-quench your thirst for blood and Nazi ass-kicking after the incredibly heart-pounding, gruesome and sadly accurate assault on Omaha Beach.

However while the particularly accurate and horrifying action is a plus, what really makes this film is the truly magnificent performance from the majority of the cast. Hanks single-handedly takes this film from a bloody war film to an emotional war epic, Jeremy Davies, who portrays cartographer Timothy Upham, delivers an astounding performance littered with tears and shaking hands, Giovanni Ribisi plays medic Irwin Wade, who performs fabulously, especially after being shot and many others perform marvellously.

Ultimately Saving Private Ryan is an emotional war epic that delivers a stunningly accurate portrayal of war, which is bloody and gruesome, and is lifted immensely high by performances that truly make you feel sorry for the characters.