It’s hard to think of another Hollywood film that portrays the horrors of the D-Day landings as powerfully as this one does from the very beginning. Watching those initial scenes, you have to wonder how any of the Allied soldiers managed to survive the water and then fight their way up a beach filled with tank traps, mines, and barbed wire – all while under constant machine gun fire. Steven Spielberg doesn't hold back; bodies fall everywhere with a stark realism that John Williams’ score underscores beautifully. It is during this seemingly impossible assault that we meet "Miller" (Tom Hanks delivers his finest performance to date) and his squad, who are given the job of destroying one of the heavily defended pill boxes. Meanwhile, the US Chief of Staff – General George Marshall – learns that a woman is about to receive three telegrams in a single day informing her that her sons have died. There’s another son, "James," and "Miller" and what remains of his group are tasked with finding him and getting him home safely. The film also makes clear that despite careful planning, no one really knows who has landed where, who is alive or dead, or whether the overall plan is even working! This adds to the difficulty as the men, along with the drafted interpreter "Upham" (Jeremy Davis), set off in search of a man they don’t know, harboring complicated feelings about the validity of their mission. What follows is a compelling story of war and how the constant fear and exhaustion can erode even the most honorable people. We witness these – decent men – transform into something they never thought possible, and the acting truly conveys this in a memorable and intense way. Brutality isn't limited to the Nazis, and these images are presented without glossing over a simple good versus evil narrative; the dialogue also feels authentic and lively. There’s even some dark humor as we move through war-torn France toward an ending that combines suspenseful action with impressive visuals and the grim reality of conflict. The men valued each other above almost everything else, their dependence on one another and their resolve to complete the task – even if they weren't entirely sure why – reflect the attitudes that were prevalent during the actual fighting in Europe during World War II, and this dramatization is remarkable. See it on a big screen if you can; it’s truly essential viewing.

Source on TMDB