Film – Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Written By – Robert Rodat
Directed By – Steven Spielberg
Major Actors – Tom Hanks, Matt Damon and Tom Sizemore
Story:
On June 6 1944 the allies invade Normandy. During this time we follow the soldiers of the 2nd Ranger Battalion. Many people are killed in the invasion including two brothers. Later we also learn a third brother was killed at a different location. After hearing news of these multiple deaths, General Marshall gives an order to retrieve and bring home the fourth brother; to be carried out by select men of the 2nd Ranger Battalion. We follow these men on their journey through war torn Europe and observe their attempt to survive under adverse conditions and retrieve the fourth brother.
Plot:
The film begins with an elderly man visiting a grave in a memorial cemetery. He is visibly upset at the loss of his friend and comrade. After this scene we are immediately taken to the beaches of Normandy. During D-Day Captain Miller leads his men of the 2nd Ranger Battalion to secure the beach of Normandy. Their are many casualties but Captain Miller survives the encounter. Following the invasion, an allied general receives news of multiple deaths in the Ryan family. This general tasks Captain Miller with the task of retrieving and recovering Private Ryan. All together, eight men are chosen to to embark on this journey that will take them to multiple locations and through different intense encounters. Many men, from both the axis and allied powers, are killed along the way. Eventually Captain Miller, and his few remaining men, reach Private Ryan and see that he is alive and well; though extremely reluctant to the thought of going home. In the final battle, Captain Miller and his men alongside Private Ryan attempt to fight off a large German attack. Many men, including Captain Miller, are injured or killed; Private Ryan ends up surviving and makes it home.
Sequence of Events:
Overall, Saving Private Ryan was presented in a chronological manner. This was the best method of choice for presenting this historically themed tale. It was very easy to follow from the development to the resolution part of the story. I leave out the initial exposition portion due to a flashback that occurs at the beginning of the story. This can leave some confusion, but as the story is laid out it makes perfect sense by the end.
Character development is extremely easy to follow due to the chronological method used. Every character has their own personality and progressively changes as the story continues on.
If this film followed a non-linear presentation style, I believe it would be hard to follow and would have a great potential for spoilers. This film would be extremely difficult to present in a non-chronological way.
Reference
Saving Private Ryan. (n.d.). IMDb. Retrieved April 24, 2014, from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120815/
Goodykoontz, B., & Jacobs, C. P. (2011). Film: From watching to seeing. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc
Nick Robert Teel 