Is "Saving Private Ryan" the best war movie in film history?

It's a question that everyone can give their own different answer, but there's no doubt that this film definitely has a place in the top five of the best war movies in recent cinematic history. Steven Spielberg filmed the most wonderful Normandy landing in film history, even the veterans who participated in the Normandy landing in World War II have given Steven applause, the magnificent long shots, realistic pictures, the real face of that battle in front of every audience, shocking the heart.

More importantly, "Saving Private Ryan" focuses on the flash of human nature and the warmth of family affection in the cruel and bloody war, deeply excavates the humanity of war, and also reflects the thinking behind the war. Steven breathed life into the film, making it go down in history and setting a new pinnacle in Steven's directing career.

However, later when people mentioned "Saving Private Ryan", it was more about the story behind the film's journey at the Oscars, because the defeat of this work at the Oscars that year officially marked the Oscars entering the era of "college public relations", and the strong public relations ability represented by the Weinstein brothers gradually became the biggest variable in the selection of awards.

At the 71st Academy Awards, "Saving Private Ryan" is undoubtedly the biggest favorite, and this work is even considered by many to surpass "Schindler's List", because the work has reached a new level of combining business and art, and even many people thought that the Best Picture Golden Man had fallen into the hands of "Private Ryan".

But the result was a surprise for everyone: the Weinstein brothers relied on a powerful public relations operation to bring the little-known "Shakespeare in Love" to the back and achieve a Jedi reversal to win the final best picture.

After the Oscars, almost the whole society was in a sensation, not only because of the "Saving Private Ryan", but also because the opponent who defeated it, "Shakespeare's Love History", was not worthy of the real name. "Shakespeare's Love History" can be said to be a good work, but it is still a little far from a good film, let alone a classic - and the "saving Private Ryan" it defeated can indeed deserve the title of "classic".

This decision also became one of the biggest injustices in the history of the Oscars, and twenty years later, the choice of the 71st Oscars has almost become a disgrace, laughed at by countless people, and even the college judges themselves admit that they made the wrong choice in the first place. "Shakespeare's Love History" has been completely submerged in the long river of history, and Gwyneth Paltrow, who won the Oscar for this work, has also been regarded as one of the most parallel actresses in history, but "Saving Private Ryan" has gone down in history, and time has proven that this work is excellent.

The entire history of the Oscars is marked by the victory of "Shakespeare's love history" over "Saving Private Ryan", and has entered a new era, where the Weinstein brothers have brought their connections, opinion leaders, and media influence to the extreme, not only turning the Oscar competition into a public relations battle, but even excellent works must have excellent public relations - the smell of wine is also afraid of deep alleys; At the same time, the concept of "awards season" was introduced, starting from the Venice Film Festival and Toronto Film Festival in September, the public relations war around the Oscars has begun, which has also made the commercial added value of the entire award ceremony industry increase geometrically, so that the influence of the film industry has been further expanded.

It can be said that this is an important turning point for the further integration of film art and commerce after the advent of the blockbuster era.

Of course, it is undoubtedly unfair to "Saving Private Ryan", an absolute classic that deserves to go down in history, but reduced to a supporting role. Not to mention that Steven spent countless efforts on this film, but he was not able to get the corresponding reward, fortunately, time has proved Steven's great status as a director.

Since the start of the "Save Private Ryan" project, Hugo did not expect to be one of them, for two reasons, on the one hand, the real protagonist of this movie is the director, and Steven's use of the camera and the excavation of the story are definitely the biggest contributors to the success of the movie; On the one hand, because the actor has basically locked in Tom Hanks, Hugo and Tom have the same agent, and the two have a good personal relationship, so naturally they will not rob Tom of the role.

But today, Steven has sent in an invitation - and Lieutenant John Miller, who is the male lead of the movie.

Hugo was stunned, then burst out laughing, "Tom suddenly got dengue fever?" ”

This also made Steven laugh, "Tom doesn't like to hear bad news like this. After Robert wrote the script for "Saving Private Ryan", it was first submitted to Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, respectively, because Robert thought these two people were the right choice for the project.

In the selection of the leading actor, Robert chose Tom instead of the current hot Hugo, the main reason is the consideration of age, Hugo is only thirty years old this year, playing the lieutenant who leads a team of eight, it seems too young, and the family bonds in the background of Lieutenant John Miller's story will be a little less convincing, on the contrary, Tom, who is currently an absolutely good man and a representative of a good father in Hollywood, has an innate advantage - and Tom is forty-one years old this year, and the age is just right. It can be said that Tom is indeed the most suitable lieutenant among Hollywood's A-list actors.

Unexpectedly, Robert's idea was immediately responded, and both Steven and Tom became interested in the project, which quickly took shape.

"The script that Hollywood hands you at the moment, except for the main character, all other scripts require a lot of courage." Steven then laughed and said, "So, I don't have any other choice, I think Tom will understand." Steven's words also made Hugo laugh, and after laughing, Steven continued, "Actually, it's the role of James Ryan." ”

In other words, it's the Ryan from "Saving Private Ryan".

The movie tells the story of Lieutenant Miller who leads a team of eight people behind enemy lines after the Normandy landings in World War II to find James Ryan, a soldier in the Airborne Forces. Because he was the youngest of four brothers, all of whom had already died in the war, the general decided to return the only son to his mother at all costs in order to prevent the last of the only seedlings from having an accident.

The "decision" itself was full of tests of humanity, and it was far more difficult for a team of eight to save a person - and still not know whether he was alive or dead - than looking for a needle in a haystack, and more importantly, the lives of these eight people would be in danger. Therefore, whether it is the eight-person team or Ryan himself, the inner struggle and complexity are difficult to describe.

"If you've read the script, you should know that Ryan is a challenging character who is very strict with the actors' acting skills. That's the heart of the movie, even more than John Miller. If his performance fails to convince and impress the audience, then the whole film's efforts are ruined. You know. Steven continued, "Tom and I have auditioned for at least twenty actors, but none of them have been satisfactory. ”

To put it simply, the whole movie is about saving Ryan, so if this Ryan can't be liked by the audience, that anger and dissatisfaction will pour out on Ryan like a storm. At the same time, realizing that the eight-man team is trying to save himself, Ryan is too happy and incorrect, too resistant and seems to be inadequate, and too dazed will look cowardly...... The change in his mixed mood is undoubtedly the core of maintaining the success or failure of the whole movie.

In the history that Hugo is well known, James Ryan is played by Matt Damon.

Matt's performance is a very steady and solid type, and he knows how to use the characteristics of his appearance to integrate that dull, mature, and restrained temperament into the role. But Matt's own acting skills lack spirituality, he is the kind of actor who typically needs to meet the right role, and most of the roles are relatively similar, although the acting skills are solid, but the breakthrough is not much. Therefore, Matt's Ryan is more wooden, which makes people sympathetic but difficult to express his inner intricacies.

Undoubtedly, Matt's version of Ryan will not be annoying, but it is also not relieving, especially the sublimation of the finale lacks the impetus of the performance, which is quite a pity. It can only be said that he completed the task honestly and in an orderly manner.

Now, Matt is an actor affiliated with an international innovation management company, so naturally he has no chance to participate in "Saving Private Ryan". No wonder Steven will move his brain to Hugo, currently among the actors in their thirties, Hugo's acting style has undoubtedly opened up a trend, delicate but explosive, varied and profound.

"What's more, Tom has wanted to work with you for several years, and maybe this is the best opportunity." Steven added again, chuckling himself, "It's not a polite remark, you should believe me." ”

Hugo was also amused by Steven's explanation, "Yes, I believe." If I have the chance, I'd love to work with Tom. "That's true, too. Not to mention the challenge and excitement brought by starring in the script of "Saving Private Ryan" and playing the role of James Ryan, which is also impacting Hugo's head.

"I know you still have a job to do, and you can't be sure of what you'll be going to do for the next few days. At the very least, though, promise me that you'll give this proposal a serious consideration. Steven's tone was completely friendly, and he and Hugo were now definitely on an equal footing, "Of course, I know that inviting you to play a supporting role is a difficult task, but ...... You'll never know the result without giving it a try, will you? ”

Hugo chuckled, "I promise you, I'll think about it." I'll ask Rick to bring the script in the evening. ”

After receiving Hugo's affirmative reply, Steven hung up the phone satisfied. Hugo stood still, but before he could think, he heard Joseph's voice from behind, "Hugo, the next rehearsal is about to begin." ”