Saving Private Ryan - Omaha Beach

'Saving Private Ryan', (1998) is probably most famous for its opening scene on Omaha Beach. The film won many awards including oscars for the following:

• Best cinematography

• Best director (Steven Spielberg)

• Best effects, sound effects editing

• Best film editing

• Best sound

I do believe the opening to 'Saving Private Ryan' is a showcase in masterful editing, from the sound effects, to the visual cuts, the way in which emotion, fear and action is portrayed. 

I'd like to focus on a small segment that features in the assault on Normandy beach, the part in which Tom Hanks' character Captain Miller has exited the boat, and is taking shelter behind a blockade on the beach. Miller is traumatised, dizzy, confused and some-what frightened. As the audience, we are witnessing this scene through Miller's head. The audience is transported into Miller's body and we're witnessing/experiencing his current state of of mind. This is achieved through the use of POV (point of view) shots, and the sound that is muffled and faded. It's as if a small bomb or grenade has gone off and the excessive ringing has distorted and fractured his sense of surrounding and hearing. 

 This section appears to be slow down slightly, and the imagery judders, shakes and jumps, connoting and corresponding to Miller's current psychical state. This editing technique is highly effective as it clearly represents what Miller and the soldiers are going through. The sound continues with its muffled, distorted effect to further emphasise the effects of being in combat. The camera continues to cut from Miller's POV, to MCUs (medium close-ups) of himself. This allows the audience to witness what he's seeing and for us to witness his response. It also further creates an emotional connection to the main protagonist as we being to sympathise and believe in this character. - A powerful technique seen in most films to keep the audience entertained, connected and interested in the story.

The sound then takes a dramatic change in effect and fades in heavily back to reality. We begin to hear the explosions, shrapnel, soldier's shouting, the waves crashing onto the beach, bullets and ricochet. The sound fades back in as one of Miller's private's asks him what the next move is. 

  

The sound parallels Miller's current psychical and emotional state of mind, by fading back in as his private is trying to communicate with him. Hand-held shows are used to emphasise the action, further making the audience feel more involved, as if they're on the battlefield with the soldiers. 

We never see any German's faces during this scene, just an OTS, and or a POV of them raining down fire on the America soldiers assaulting the beach. I believe this helps build an emotional connection to the allies and a 'hatred' the the Germans. Without seeing the German's faces, we can't connect to them in any shape or form, however by constantly showing the allies' expressions and emotions, we are allowed to build that bond and empathise with the characters.

The editing techniques in this scene, especially the sound really highlight and bring the scene to life.