Saving Private Ryan (1998) / War-Drama

MPAA Rated: R for intense prolonged realistically graphic sequences of war violence, and for language
Running Time: 169 min.

Cast: Tom Hanks, Tom Sizemore, Edward Burns, Barry Pepper, Matt Damon
Director: Steven Spielberg
Screenplay: Robert Rodat
Review published November 24, 1998

The story is simple.  The images will last forever.

Due to the devastating news that three out of four brothers have died during WWII, the US military decide to send a troop into hostile enemy territory to recover the sole remaining brother, if he's even still alive.

Saving Private Ryan is perhaps most memorable for its unflinching and unglamorous look at war than for the actual storyline.  This is a devastatingly moving and memorable picture by Steven Spielberg (The Lost World, Schindler's List) featuring solid acting, realistic depictions of the horrors of war, and well-written, three-dimensional character portrayals put into scenarios so real that it feels as if you are watching a documentary and you're in the middle of the action along with them.

Saving Private Ryan was nominated for a multitude of Academy Awards, and a surprising loss for Best Picture to Shakespeare in Love.  This landmark war film will forever change the way people view WWII and the veterans that fought in that bloody war.

Qwipster's rating:

©1998 Vince Leo