Acting and Acting Styles: Saving Private Ryan/ Tom Hanks

For the movie Saving Private Ryan, Steven Spielberg had a specific vision of mise en scene, theme, and message that he wanted to deliver. To accomplish this, while staying true to the genre and reality of the complexity of the backgrounds of the soldiers that comprised the military in 1940, he needed actors that are noted for their flexibility. In Tom Hanks, Tom Sizemore, and Matt Damon (among others), Spielberg found they could present the realistic character/impersonator style he wanted. Spielberg also cultivated this in great detail to create the mise en scene he wanted.

I chose these actors because of the diversity and flexibility these actors have in their styles through their careers across different genres. From our reading it is implied that character actors “become” the character in the movie which is a trait that is common to these three actors. In Saving Private Ryan these actors had to become the character in a very real sense to maintain the mise en scene and genre roles they had. The historically accurate, visually detailed, and personal nature of the message could not have been delivered with the impact it was in any other way.

Tom Hanks as Captain Miller had the war genre role as the older, seasoned leader who is tough but has a good heart (Eberwein, 2009).  Tom Sizemore as Sergeant Horvath has a supporting role on the same format, while Matt Damon is the battle weary but young reason for the mission as Private Ryan. All come together in battle.

One of the more significant impacts of this movie is it presents civilians with a view onto the combat veterans experience. At Saving Private Ryan’s original release many WWII veterans had to leave the movie theaters because of the reality of the film and the memories it stirred with- in those that endured similar or the same battlefield events. This is proof that validates the direction and decisions Speilberg made in the realistic characterizations. With Tom Hanks in the lead role as Captain Miller, Speilberg had a diverse actor with a successful record of realistic character roles.

Tom Hanks has a very diverse and lengthy resume’ that demonstrates his flexibility and progression as an actor. He made his film debut in the low-budget slasher film He Knows You’re Alone and progressed through a his early career in comedy/ humor movies that include Splash, Turner and Hooch and Joe Verses the Volcano. In 1992 he made the transition to more dramatic roles in Sleepless in Seatle taking on more serious roles with the 1993 Academy Award winning performance in Philadelhia. In 1994 he again won the Academy Award for Forrest Gump and was applauded for his 1995 role as Commander Jim Lovell in Apollo13.In 1998 Saving Private Ryan and Sleepless in Seattle are completed. From this point forward, Hanks is an established character actor that has continued across fictional and non-fictional characters in The Green Mile, Cast Away, and The Davinci Code among others.Tom Hanks diversity and craft have earned him numerous accolades and awards that include 2 Academy Awards, the AFI Lifetime Achievement Awards and in 2014 a Kennedy Center Honoree.

Resources:

Eberwein, Robert. (2009). Hollywood War Film. Hoboken, NJ, USA: Wiley- Blackwell

Grant, B. K. (Ed.). (2012). Film genre reader IV [Electronic version]. Retrieved from the eBrary database

Goodykoontz, B., & Jacobs, C. P. (2014). Film: From watching to seeing (2nd ed.). San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc

Spielburg, S. (1998) Saving Private Ryan. Dreamworks Pictures and Paramount Pictures

Saving Private Ryan: Catgories and Functions Of Sound

Saving Private Ryan becomes a living experience because of the outstanding balance of all elements in creating the mise en scene which is the accented by the elements of sound. As a graphic and historically accurate epic war film the diegetic or natural sounds of the battlefield, dialogue, and environment of the scene are accented by the non-diegetic (created) and musical interaction.

The opening scenes with the waving of the faded American flag and the soulful but broad music following the Ryan family onto the cemetery grounds gives a hint to the emotions to come. The singular tones of the trumpet in the piece accent the scenes of the rows of crosses in solemn reverence. The haunting full notes of the French horns accents the look in Ryan’s eyes as the sounds of waves takes over. The mood is set for some great drama or revelation to occur.

As the movie transitions into the plot the music is gone and the sounds are those you would expect to hear on a beach assault which reaffirms the war genre. The dialogue and sound effects are all diegetic and realistic. The only break in audible assault is when Captain Miller is overwhelmed for a moment in the surreal of all that is going on and the non-diegetic sound insert of a rising wind tone and all other sounds silenced augments the Captain’s and audience’s sense of being caught in a whirlwind of events.

What is also important to note is not just the interaction of the three sound elements of dialogue, music, and sound effects but also the volumes at which they come across throughout the movie. The crescendos (increases) and decreases (decrescendos) highlight the intensity and mood associated with the scene. The same elements that are uses in music are also used in voice and dialogue to heighten mood and senses. Periods of calm or quiet do the same to the mood and senses.  It is critical in the editing to place all the sound elements in support of the action and mise en scene for the flow and continuity of the plot to develop with- in the film’s genre.

In Captain Miller’s death scene there is a transition from all three sound elements that captures the transition in mood and sacrifice to the solemn event that transpires between Miller and Ryan. There is also a hint of what is yet to come as the voice of General Marshall reading a letter to Ryan’s mother is dubbed into the scene. The tone and timbre of the voice rolls into the theme and mood of what Miller has accomplished in his, and all the troops fighting, have sacrificed so greatly to preserve.

In conclusion all the sounds and editing compliment and support the films genre and intended mood in telling the story.  By altering or removing any element there would be significant changes in mood and impact of the scenes in delivering the plot within the genre and intended message and mood. The delivery and sequence of all the elements carried the audience back to the events surrounding the story so completely that veterans and civilians alike “relived” that period in our nations and the world history.

References

Eberwein, Robert. (2009). Hollywood War Film. Hoboken, NJ, USA: Wiley- Blackwell

Grant, B. K. (Ed.). (2012). Film genre reader IV [Electronic version]. Retrieved from the eBrary database

Goodykoontz, B., & Jacobs, C. P. (2014). Film: From watching to seeing (2nd ed.). San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc

Spielburg, S. (1998) Saving Private Ryan. Dreamworks Pictures and Paramount Pictures

Mise en scene: Saving Private Ryan

Mise en scene: Saving Private Ryan

            The movie Saving Private Ryan was filmed using a variety of lighting techniques to capture the mise en scene, arrangement and design elements to capture the visual theme, that was critical to capture the mood of the film. It is also important to understand the story and setting of this war epic to appreciate the challenges that were presented in the lighting of the film scenes.   It is a story set during WWII that is about the search for the last surviving brother of the four that served in the military undertaken by an Army Captain and in his men in the European theater starting at the invasion at Normandy. The team faces unbelievable odds to accomplish the mission and it chronicles the individual challenges and triumphs of the individual team members and the team as a whole in the brutal realities of war. The iconic presentation of overcoming overwhelming odds that requires some to pay the ultimate price in achieving the goal during a battle is a portrayed in somber, almost fatalistic tones.

To capture the mood the outdoor scenes were shot using natural lighting and flat lighting to soften the texture and colors. Positioning of actors and props in reference to camera angles and lens selections capture the frenetic action of combat while keeping the tone subdued. This helped to heighten the sense of resignation to their fate in pursuing a futile order that wouldn’t change anything. The flat lighting also provides a subliminal contrast to the vividness and almost laser beam sharpness of most combat actions. The brutality and macabre of combat was still captured in stark reality by the gruesome details of the shots and actors.

Indoor scenes were shot using traditional three-point lighting to keep the mood in balanced. Again, flat lighting at the lens kept the shot subdued and muted while allowing the shadows and actor positioning to take full advantage of the three-point arrangements. The brief fleeting moments when, either by editing, or removal of the flat lighting allowed bright spots to convey singular or group achievement or enlightenment. This used again in the scene when Captain Miller is dying and the mission has been accomplished when the Captain gives his final dialogue and there is a brighter lighting scheme used.

The final scene at the cemetery is shot in both natural and traditional three-point. The scene is more vivid with the rows of flags and the final resting place of so many American dead. The reality of so many sacrifices and the one made to save Private Ryan are highlighted in vivid light. The symbolism of the numbers of crosses and the acts of those under them are captured in bright light while maintaining a reverent tone.

The lighting suited the war genre because of the storyline and setting. Capturing the outdoor shots and action could not have been accurately recreated in detail and depth in an enclosed studio. Simply put there is too much real estate covered in the type of combat actions that were portrayed to have anything other than natural lighting. Reality was heightened by the vivid portrayal and close-up shots of battle wounds and hits. When the lighting could be controlled, it served to compliment the situation and mood rather than to dominate it. Any other use of lighting schemes would have lost the impact and mood of Captain Miller and his team.

Resources

Eberwein, Robert. (2009). Hollywood War Film. Hoboken, NJ, USA: Wiley- Blackwell

Grant, B. K. (Ed.). (2012). Film genre reader IV [Electronic version]. Retrieved from the eBrary database

Goodykoontz, B., & Jacobs, C. P. (2014). Film: From watching to seeing (2nd ed.). San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc

Spielburg, S. (1998) Saving Private Ryan. Dreamworks Pictures and Paramount Pictures

Blog 1 Ender’s Game

Title: Ender’s Game

Released: 2013

Directed: Gavin Hood

Producers: Gigi Pritzker

Linda McDonough

Alex Kurtzman

Roberto Orci

Robert Chartoff

Lynn Hendee

Orson Scott Card

Ed Ulbrich

Screenplay:    Gavin Hood

Based on Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

Starring:         Asa Butterfield – Andrew “Ender” Wiggin

Harrison Ford- Colonel Hrym Graff

Hailee Steinfeld- Petra Arkanian

Viola Davis – Major Gwen Anderson

Abigail Breslin – Valentine Wiggin

Ben Kingsley – Mazor Rackham

Story:

             Humanity has been training and developing gifted adolescents to fight the alien race called formics, who had previously unsuccessfully attacked earth due to the heroics of a single fighter pilot. The training was designed to develop an unconventional genius who would be able to lead Earth’s fleet to victory. That genius is a brilliant young man named Ender.

Plot:

            Ender is found on a recruiting mission by Col. Graff after he completes his cadet training and has his monitor removed indicating his completion of training. He gets into a fight with a boy whom he had defeated in a combat simulation and soundly beats him. He confesses his grief to his sister, who is his confidant for all the bullying he receives from his older brother. Graff is impressed with Ender’s tenacity and advances him in the cadet program and take him to the space training station “Battle School”. While there Graff is tough on Ender and isolates him from any emotional contact or relief but treats him as extraordinary which further isolates him.

The cadets are broken into squads for rank and competition in the zero gravity arena called the “Battle Room”. Every aspect of cadet life is fierce competition that pits one cadet against the other for rank and leadership positions. Despite being singled out Ender thrives and excels at every challenge which creates animosity from his squad leader Bonzo. Bonzo tries to isolate him in the Battle room challenge, but Ender gets help from Petra, a female cadet who disobeys orders, which leads to an unexpected victory for Bozo’s team. This fuels Bonzo’s antagonism towards Ender and has dire implications later.

Another aspect of Ender’s development is he is linked to special games by the psychology officer, Major Anderson, under the direction of Graff and monitored by both. In the course of one of these sessions Ender finds himself presented with an image of his sister. He follows her across a plain to a strange rock formation and the come under some kind of attack. The image of Valentine disappears and he is confronted by a formic queen with whom he communicates telepathically. The image of the queen fades to an egg which is replaced by his brother. Ender’s reaction is to destroy everything. The Col is alarmed by the appearance of Ender’s brother and orders the major to stop streaming the game to Ender.

Ender is soon promoted to a squad of his own which is formed out of other “misfits” except for Petra. Under His leadership they excel in the “Battle Room” exercises and ultimately defeat Bonzo’s squad in a humiliating defeat. Bonzo tries to exact revenge on Ender and gets seriously injured by Ender. This opens Enders insight into himself as being vicious when attacked and he doesn’t like it or what he perceives the Col. is making him become. He tries to quit but Graff gets Valentine to talk him into returning. Ender tells Valentine he is returning because he could not bear the guilt of something happening to her if he could prevent it.

Graf and Ender return to a forward base which had once been a formic outpost and Ender recognizes from his dream. There he meets Mazor Rackham, the hero from the first battle with the formic, who he thought had long been dead. The rest of the squad joins Ender and he learns that they will be his battle team as he prepares to be the Battle Fleet Commander. Petra is trained in the operation of a special weapon called a Molecular Detachment Device (MDD) which is their biggest hope against the formic. Mazor and the Col push the team and Ender to extremes with countless simulations. The major is concerned but is told by Graff that time is running out and Ender is a champion and can handle it.

At what they think is the last simulation, the entire Fleet command is present to observe. Ender wins by sacrificing his fleet and using the MDD to destroy the formic fleet and their planet. Ender and the team are thrilled in their victory only to learn that is was not a simulation, they had in fact won the battle and destroyed the formic threat by wiping them out. Ender is upset and furious to learn that he is responsible for the genocide of a species. He exits the command room and exits the building and his dream comes back to him.

He traverses a rocky space and enters the rock formation there and discovers it to be a formic structure. Just as in his dream he finds the formic queen and communicates with her over the last formic egg. Tears are streaming down his face as he communicates with her. The final scene is of Ender traveling in deep space and composing a communiqué to his sister. He is telling her he wonders if he can be as good a savior as destroyer as he looks for a new home for the lone formic survivor.

Chronology:

            The film was told in chronological order. By doing so the audience was drawn in with life experiences of Ender and the other characters. They could identify and relate to the emotions and frustrations of the characters on a personal level of going through those things themselves. By developing the plot in a linear fashion the audience could also grow along with the characters. As the thoughts and actions of Ender mature and broaden so does the perspective of the audience. It could relate to the problems and challenges because they parallel those we have in the real world.

If the film had not developed in a linear progression it would have been harder to identify with the ending. The ending was an examination of universal hope for peace that is most often associated with maturity. The conclusion also presented the idea that humanity need to join as one community in the universe in a search for peace and understanding.

Resources:

Movie Clips. (2014, March) Ender’s Game Official Trailer#1.[Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SRizeR4MmU

Prittzker, G., McDonough, L., Kurtzman, A., Orci, R., Chartoff, R., Hendee,l. Card, O. S., Ulbrich, E. (Producers) Hood, G. (Director). (2013) Ender’s Game..United States: Lionsgate Studios

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