Shot Analysis

This is a fantastic still frame from the award winning film 'Saving Private Ryan'. This shot is taken right at the beginning of the movie just after all the US soldiers have landed on the French beach, where the enemy, Germany watches over and protects. The rushing boats filled with old and young nervous US soldiers sets the mood, as they head towards the death ruled beach. As the gates of the boats open bullets penetrate the men before they can feel the sand, many honest men a slaughtered without a chance. The captain, John H. Miller (Tom Hanks) who is aboard one of the many ships commands all men to prolong their lives by leaping over the sides of the boats into the freezing Atlantic ocean. Then underwater shots are shown as the men plunge to save themselves and the chaos that not only occurs out in the open but under water as streams of bubbles are created by bullets.

The camera angle is impressive as it allows the audience to feel involved in this hectic situation. The camera films slightly out of the water and then back down as if it were bobbing, this hints that it is mocking one of the soldiers point of view as they are coming out of the water. This angle suggests that their eye level is just above the water over looking two soldiers aiding each other. It is clear to observe that both men are gripping onto each other as well as supporting their own body. This clearly highlights the fact that war is never an individual commitment but a team challenge.

The lighting is helped to set the tone of the scene. It uses natural light capturing the reality of low light expressing the dullness. This emphasizes the point that there is nothing joyful about this situation. This also highlights the fact that war is occurring and the smoke created in the background amplifies this point. The colours chosen to be in this shot don’t attract your eyes to a central point. All the colours are very similar for example; dark green, black, grey, brown and washed out red. The lack of contrast helps the viewer to observe the shot as a whole bringing all the elements together. Therefore relating back to the point that war is not an individual situation.

This frame shows the daunting German forts located on a hill above the US soldiers. This low angle shot relative to the German’s positions shows the hierarchy in the current war situation how the Germans are triumphing so far.

In conclusion this is non-contrasting shot helps to signify the reality of camaraderie.