Plot: Steven Spielberg directed this powerful, realistic re-creation of WWII's D-day invasion and the immediate aftermath. The story opens with a prologue in which a veteran brings his family to the American cemetery at Normandy, and a flashback then joins Capt. John Miller (Tom Hanks) and GIs in a landing craft making the June 6, 1944, approach to Omaha Beach to face devastating German artillery fire. Miller's men slowly move forward to finally take a concrete pillbox. On the beach littered with bodies is one with the name "Ryan" stenciled on his backpack. Army Chief of Staff Gen. George C. Marshall (Harve Presnell), learning that three Ryan brothers from the same family have all been killed in a single week, requests that the surviving brother, Pvt. James Ryan (Matt Damon), be located and brought back to the United States. Capt. Miller gets the assignment, and he chooses a translator, Cpl. Upham (Jeremy Davis), skilled in language but not in combat, to join his squad of right-hand man Sgt. Horvath (Tom Sizemore), plus privates Mellish (Adam Goldberg), Medic Wade (Giovanni Ribisi), cynical Reiben (Edward Burns) from Brooklyn, Italian-American Caparzo (Vin Diesel), and religious Southerner Jackson (Barry Pepper), an ace sharpshooter who calls on the Lord while taking aim. Having previously experienced action in Italy and North Africa, the close-knit squad sets out through areas still thick with Nazis. Via.
Matt's Rating: A+
Why Matt's appalled Nicole's never watched it: It's possibly Spielberg's best film and definitely one of the top 3 films of the 90's. The film has so many moving moments. It makes you laugh, cry, squirm, and some of the death scenes haunt you for days after. It's a brutally realistic film that takes no prisoners and I applaud Spielberg for that. He kills characters you don't want him to, he shows you the most evil part of mankind, and he shows you the most beautiful parts of mankind. Saving Private Ryan is also one of the few films that I re watch constantly and EVERY TIME I find something new; whether it be religious motif's, inside character jokes, or the juxtaposition of shot choices, the film ceases to amaze me. The one scene that still has me choking back tears is when the mother of the Ryan boys find out three of her four sons have died. There is not a single line spoken. Not even a sigh. Yet, when she sees the priest get out of the car and she collapses, I almost lose it every time. I love everything about this film and it's a testament to what good film making is capable of doing to an audience.
Nicole's Rating: A+
Nicole's Review: Sorry for the delay in posting, you guys. I was too busy RECUPERATING FROM THIS MOVIE! Had to remove the knot from my throat, the tears from my eyes and the sloppy boogers from my nose. Seriously.
What a great, great movie. Great, great, great movie. I mean - I don't know that I can say much more than that. The all star cast was - a little ridiculous at times. I spent A LOT of time shouting - HEY! I KNOW THAT GUY! at the screen. And for anyone that knows me, that's one of my most favorite movie watching past times - trying to place obscure actors in other obscure movies/television shows I might have seen them in. Like, Daniel Farraday is in this movie. And "Billy Shadow" from Where the Heart Is. I'm a loser.
Whatever. Awesome film.
The first time I watched this movie I hid behind a pillow. It was THAT intense. The film is definitely one of my favorites, but I still like The Color Purple better. Nicole, I am very shocked you hadn't seen this movie, it's one of Mom's favorites.
ReplyDeletep.s. curious to know what the other three top movies of the 90's are?
Obviously it includes Shakespeare in Love :P
(That is sarcasm)
Oh yeah, I missed that he wrote that! Yeah, Matt - what are the other Top 3 films of the 90s? Braveheart? AND?
ReplyDeleteMOM saw this movie and I didn't? What is the world coming to?
Schindler's List
ReplyDelete