Saving Private Ryan (1998): Film Notes and Scores

Director:

Cast:

Poster artwork for Saving Private Ryan — Original poster artwork · Great Cinema Master List

Spoiler-free premise

After the Normandy landings, a squad is sent behind enemy lines to locate a missing American soldier.

Read expanded premiseLonger, still spoiler-free

After surviving the Normandy landings, Captain John Miller receives orders to lead a small squad through occupied France and find paratrooper James Ryan. Ryan's three brothers have been killed, and the army wants the remaining son returned home.

Why it belongs

Saving Private Ryan marries the bodily terror of combat with a searching argument about duty, sacrifice, mastery, and the value of one life.

Read expanded why it belongsThe fuller editorial case

Desaturated color, handheld cameras, altered shutter speed, concussive sound, and ground-level confusion make Omaha Beach immediate without making violence clean—the later mission gains weight from the squad's differing responses to an order none chose.

Major award record

Metadata only · zero points in 40/40/20

Academy Awards5 wins1999 · official ceremony record ↗

Directing1999 · Steven Spielbergofficial ceremony record ↗

Plus 4 additional wins

Golden Globes2 wins1999 · official film record ↗

Best Motion Picture - Drama1999 · Saving Private Ryanofficial film record ↗Best Director - Motion Picture1999 · Steven Spielbergofficial film record ↗

BAFTA2 wins1999 · official BAFTA 1999 Film Awards results ↗

Plus 2 additional wins

No headline-category win to name

Totals include every recorded competitive win. Only Picture or top-film honors, Direction, Screenplay, and lead or supporting performances are named.

Good for