For 23 minutes, Steven Spielberg’s “Saving Private Ryan” drops audiences into the D-Day landings at Omaha Beach. Handheld cameras and low angles follow Captain John Miller (Tom Hanks) and his squadron as they come under intense fire from German soldiers. The epic opening sequence sets the tone for the film and its brutal depiction of war, making it one of the most harrowing and realistic portrayals audiences had ever seen.
“The Creator” cinematographer Oren Soffer recalls seeing “Saving Private Ryan” when he was 13 years old in school. “They showed this film to our entire middle school class for history, and we were learning about World War II.”
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