I am not someone who loves watching war movies. I don’t enjoy the constant barrage of explosions and gun firings. I do not like seeing body parts projected willy-nilly on the ground. I hate the gory details, and I am appalled at the waste of life. I have a hard time looking at innocent carnage and destruction. But here’s my conundrum. I do believe in the necessity of standing up for what you believe in after all diplomatic endeavors have failed. I recognize and accept that there is evil in our world, and it is imperative to protect those who can’t. Hence…we battle wars, and even though I, myself, have never fought against another country, millions have and still do today. I never believed that shooting someone is neat and tidy. The bullet that enters the body wreaks havoc within. It must be messy, gory, brutal, surreal, and very painful. It is not pretty nor can or should it be romanticized. Steven Spielberg understood this. He realized the value of showing the world the utter chaos and fear that goes with facing a torrent of machine gun fire on an open beach. It was hell, and he wanted the truth to be revealed in all its vicious glory. He succeeded in 1998 when he created the epic tale of SAVING PRIVATE RYAN. It begs the question how much is any one man’s life worth? Do we have the right to try to save one man versus the eight who were desperately just trying to complete their mission and earn the right to go home?
SAVING PRIVATE RYAN was made for seventy million dollars, and grossed close to a half billion. Spielberg never thought the public would want to see this film. He created it as an homage to his father making sure the audiences would learn the truth about the waste of war, and its FUBAR moments, all while using hundreds of barrels filled with fake blood. The movie touched people’s hearts and became a blockbuster and was awarded five Oscars including Best Director, Sound, Sound Effects, Cinematography, and Editing. SPR was nominated for Best Picture but lost to SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE. (This was considered one of the Academy’s worst blunders by choosing political pressure from Harvey Weinstein and not voting for the film that deserved to win.)
The opening scene in SAVING PRIVATE RYAN was unforgettable. It took 25 days to film in sequence. Spielberg did not storyboard the first thirty minutes when the troops landed on Omaha Beach. It was historically correct and cost eleven million dollars to recreate the carnage. They used 1000 extras. Some of the “actors” were from the Irish Army Reserves. There were also twenty to thirty amputees interspersed among the men. The boats they used to make their entrance was the real deal from World War II. The cameramen were instructed to move around and get their best shots at any angle possible. Spielberg was also holding a camera working with his crew. The dying screams of agony broke my heart as well as the quiet cries for “Mama.” Many Vets have difficulty watching those opening seconds. It was so powerful and realistic, that many left, and came back after the beach scene to finish.
The cast was brilliant. It was like being in the highest caliber of a Master Class. Leading his band of men was Captain Miller portrayed by the incomparable Tom Hanks. He was able to show his emotional journey of being a brave, wise leader even when feeling quite ordinary and small. He will always be one of our finest actors of all time. He was surrounded by an incredible ensemble such as Matt Daman, Tom Sizemore, Edward Burns, Barry Pepper, Vin Diesel, Ted Danson, Adam Goldberg, Paul Giamatti, Dennis Farina, and Nathan Fillion. The men had to go through a grueling Army basic training camp for six days. The cast said it was the hardest physical exertion they had ever been through in their careers.
The opening of SAVING PRIVATE RYAN painted a haunting picture from John Williams’s beautiful, poignant musical score to the visuality of thousands of white crosses perfectly lined up within a military cemetery. It was the camera angles and perspectives of the dead that I couldn’t get those images out of my mind and heart, especially on Memorial Day. The dead are not just numbers who tragically lost their lives. They represent men who made the highest sacrifice so that all of us can live peacefully and freely. The film was profound, bittersweet, and palpable. It must not be forgotten.
SAVING PRIVATE RYAN is a spectacular war epic classic. It is simply one of the finest movies ever made. It deserves our highest attention and accolades so that we realize the true depth of the word…war. Captain Miller said it best. Each of us, especially Private Ryan, must “earn this…earn it.” These few words succinctly reinforce what this film is all about. It is available on TCM.
