Saving Private Ryan (1998)

Loosely based on the story of the Niland brothers, Saving Private Ryan is a realistic and powerful war movie set during WW II’s D-day invasion of the Normandy and the immediate aftermath in which a squad of US soldiers go behind enemy lines to find Private Ryan, whose three brothers have been killed in action within a week, and bring him back home.

Written by Robert Rodat and directed by Steven Spielberg the movie opens with the legendary, intense and graphic, about 20 minutes long depiction of the invasion of Omaha beach on June 6, 1944 where Captain John H. Miller and his 2nd Ranger Battalion fight to secure the beachhead. Next to thousands of other American soldiers two Ryan brothers were killed during the invasion; a third was killed the same week in action in New Guinea fighting the Japanese.

After US Chief of Staff General George Marshall learns about the fate of the three brothers and that the whereabouts of the fourth and youngest Ryan brother, who serves in the 101st Airborne Division, which was dropped into Normandy ahead of the invasion, are unknown, Captain Miller and 7 other members from the 2nd Ranger Battalion of the 29th Infantry Division are assigned to find and bring home Private James Francis Ryan.

The mission takes the squad behind enemy lines through dangerous, Nazi occupied territory. Losing one of their own raises the question if risking their lives justifies saving the one of Private Ryan.

Even though not 100% accurate and here and there criticized for being uncritical, patriotic and except for the opening scenes harmless which may have contributed to paving the way for America’s readiness for the Invasion of Iraq in 2003, “Saving Private Ryan” shows one of the most realistic, powerful and intense depiction of the brutality and horrors of war on film ever.

Next to an outstanding cast including Tom Hanks as Captain Miller, company commander, 2nd Ranger Battalion, Matt Damon as Private First Class James Francis Ryan, a paratrooper, Edward Burns as Private First Class Richard Reiben, a BAR gunner and Tom Sizemore as Technical Sergeant Mike Horvath, the movie won several awards including 5 Academy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, the BAFTA Award and a Grammy Award.