“Saving Private Ryan” (1998) directed by Steven Spielberg; starring Tom Hanks, Edward Burns, Matt Damon and Tom Sizemore / Z-View

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Saving Private Ryan (1998)

Director:  Steven Spielberg

Screenplay: Robert Rodat

Stars: Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, Tom Sizemore, Edward Burns, Barry Pepper, Adam Goldberg, Giovanni Ribisi, Jeremy Davies, Ted Danson, Paul Giamatti, Dennis Farina, Max Martini, Nathan Fillion, Ryan Hurst, Dale Dye, Bryan Cranston, David Wohl and Vin Diesel.

Tagline:  The mission is a man.

The Plot…

June 6, 1944.  D Day.  Operation Overlord is underway.  American forces storm the German fortified beaches of Normandy.  The coastline has been divided into five sections.  At Omaha Beach the American forces face the most resistance.

Omaha Beach is heavily fortified with German machine gun nests, artillery, as well as mines and barbed wire.  The US soldiers coming ashore have a wide-open beach with no cover making them easy targets.  The Germans hold the high ground.  Yet the US soldiers, despite heavy losses ultimately prevail.

Immediately following the Battle of Omaha Beach, Captain Miller is given an assignment.  The US Department of War has learned that the Ryan family has four sons in the service.  Against all odds, three of the four Ryan men have been killed in action.  The fourth, Private James Ryan is behind enemy lines with the 101st Airborne.  Captain Miller’s mission is to put together a team, penetrate into enemy territory, find Private Ryan and get him safely out.  Ryan will be given a ticket home.

Captain Miller enlists six battle-tested soldiers and an interpreter with no combat experience to accompany him.  No all will survive.  Private Ryan may already be dead.

The man is the mission.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Saving Private Ryan was nominated for eleven 1999 Academy Awards.  It won five…

  • Nominee for Best Music, Original Dramatic Score – John Williams 
  • Nominee for Best Makeup – Lois Burwell, Conor O’Sullivan, Daniel C. Striepeke
  • Nominee for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration – Thomas E. Sanders, Lisa Dean
  • Nominee for Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen – Robert Rodat
  • Nominee for Best Actor in a Leading Role – Tom Hanks
  • Nominee for Best Picture – Steven Spielberg, Ian Bryce, Mark Gordon, Gary Levinsohn
  • Winner for Best Effects, Sound Effects Editing – Gary Rydstrom, Richard Hymns
  • Winner for Best Film Editing – Michael Kahn
  • Winner for Best Sound – Gary Rydstrom, Gary Summers, Andy Nelson, Ron Judkins
  • Winner for Best Cinematography – Janusz Kaminski
  • Winner for Best Director – Steven Spielberg

 Frank Darabont and Scott Frank did uncredited rewrites on Robert Rodat’s screenplay.  John Milius also made suggestions.

Saving Private Ryan opens with the storming of Omaha Beach.  It runs over 20 minutes and sets the tone for all to follow.  It is one of the most amazing and realistic depictions of battle put on film.  There were up to 1,000 extras and cost $11 million to film.

During his research Steven Spielberg spoke with many World War II veterans.  They asked that Spielberg not make a typical Hollywood war movie.  They wanted the audience to understand the brutality and terror of war.  Spielberg was surprised that Saving Private Ryan became a hit, despite the realism of the opening scene.  Spielberg further said that he would have refused to cut the film even if it had to be released with an NC-17 rating.

The Department of Veterans Affairs set up a special 800 number for past and current soldiers traumatized from the film.  There were reportedly 100s of calls to the line.

Steven Spielberg cast Matt Damon as Private Ryan because he wanted an unknown actor with All-American good looks.  Before Saving Private Ryan was released, Damon was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar and won an Academy Award for Best Screenplay, both for Good Will Hunting.  By the time Saving Private Ryan was released Damon was a star.

Vin Diesel wasn’t a star when hired for Saving Private Ryan. Steven Spielberg saw Diesel’s self-directed short films, Multi-Facial (1995) and Strays (1997).  He recognized Diesel’s talent.

Nathan Fillion, Ryan Hurst and Bryon Cranston appear in small roles.

Saving Private Ryan is a classic.

Saving Private Ryan (1998) rates 5 of 5 stars