FF1 - Saving Private Ryan

Intro by John Roderick

The year is 1998 and Steven Spielberg is arguably at the height of his powers with a long string of box office hits. He teams up with movie star Tom Hanks to make his most ambitious project yet. The film follows a platoon of army rangers on a mission to save the last surviving brother of the Ryan family. The star studded cast led by Hanks includes Edward Burns Matt Damon Tom Sizemore Barry Pepper Adam Goldberg and a young Vin Diesel.

The film is hailed as a watershed moment in the cinema of war. Critics remark that it is harrowing and visceral but has this film aged well or has Spielberg schmaltzy filmmaking gone Ransom's. The only way out is through. This is friendly fire and today's film is Saving Private Ryan.