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Saving Private Ryan - 8/10
The storming of Omaha would be the best war sequence ever filmed to this day if theyd never made 1917. Of course i wouldnt judge a film against what was made after it im simply saying its really a cut above. At that point there's nothing put to film thats better.
Like that opening battle the film takes all the romance out of the picture and replaces it with sorrow and fear but it manages not to lose heroism which would have been very easy to do. Fear is a theme throughout the film even in a character who's central arc is hus own cowardice and boldly he doesnt overcome it at all. Instead it costs him his humanity in some ways; the war leaving him less honorable than it found him.
The thing that impressed me the most with the picture is the casting though. The secondary and tertiary roles are littered with talent but they arent what youd expect to find in a war film. This cast seems like the people you would find in any neighborhood anywhere in America. Theyre normal people who've been burdened with mountainous task. There are tough guys about but they remain human and not charactature.
Where does it rank among Spielberg's best work? Hard to say. Close Encounters, Jaws, Indiana Jones, ET, Jurassic Park, and Schindler's List. These films are known to basically everyone. Saving Private Ryan belongs in their tier i think without question. Whati think i can say is was his last truly great film up to this point. He's made good films since. Catch Me if You Can for instance but nothing thats on this level of excellence.
Will he ever again? Time will tell.
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