SSC Film Studies

Saving Private Ryan Analysis

The sequence begins with a medium close up which focuses on the main character in the film, Captain Miller, played by Tom Hanks. The camera positions him in the centre of the frame, driving the audience to focus on him first and pay attention to him. After focusing on his character the camera then backtracks revealing a whole troop of soldiers stood amongst one another on the boat. Some men vomiting in fear, and the others stood staring.

  The camera is handheld, and shakes and moves about with the characters, making us feel as though we are there with the soldiers at war. Shooting Captain Miller in a tight frame positions him as a protagonist, this informing us that he is the main character in the film. It also gives us a sense that he is independent, because of the framing position. The backtrack re-focuses the attention of the beginning shot of Miller to the rest of the troop within the boat, positioning him as just another one of the soldiers. The low key lighting throughout the film indicates to us that the tone is dark and depressing. The film is based around the colour blue, which seems washed out, and the blood contrasting with the blue making it stand out more to us.

  The movement of the camera from Miller to the rest of the soldiers shows that he is just as afraid and vulnerable as the rest of the troop.