Saving Private Ryan released

Saving Private Ryan Released: July 24, 1998 Studio: DreamWorks Genre: war drama Box Office (numbers in millions): Domestic: 217.00 Worldwide: 482.30 Adjusted for Inflation: Domestic: 412.69 Worldwide: 917.70

Directing: Steven Spielberg Screenwriting: Robert Rodat Starring: Tom Hanks, Edward Burns, Tom Sizemore, Matt Damon, Adam Goldberg, Giovanni Ribisi, Barry Pepper, Harve Presnell, Vin Diesel, Jeremy Davies Review: Because of its “realistic and uncompromising account of the war often romanticized by Hollywood,” AFI07 Saving Private Ryan is “considered as one of the greatest war dramas ever made.” MSN “The film was a critical and box office smash and brought Spielberg his second Best Director Oscar (his first was for his other World War II era film, Schindler’s List (1993).” FS The first half hour of the film is marked by “the brutal, uncompromising, and graphic depiction of the landing at bloody Omaha Beach on D-Day (June 6, 1944) .” FS Most of the film, however, “revolves around the rescue of a downed paratrooper in the French countryside, Pvt. James Ryan (Damon), whose three brothers have recently been killed in action.” FS Thanks to a “morale-lifting, propagandistic, PR effort for the military brass (Army Chief of Staff Gen. George C. Marshall (Presnell),” FS “a unit of war-weary soldiers is forced to risk their lives to find the young man and bring him home.” AFI07 Captain John Miller (Hanks) leads a platoon of “seven stereotypical characters…hard-nosed Sgt. Horvath (Sizemore), a frightened, militarily-inexperienced translator Cpl. Upham (Davies), and five privates (Burns, Ribisi, Diesel, Pepper and Goldberg) – including a cynical hothead from Brooklyn, an introspective medic, a decent soldier, a religious Southern sharpshooter, and a tough Jew.” FS “Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks had been longtime friends before this movie, yet somehow had never worked together. Once each learned the other was reading Robert Rodat’s script, discussions ensued.” MSN Sources: AFI07 American Film Institute (2007). “AFI’s 100 Years…100 Movies – 10th Anniversary Edition” FS Filmsite.org “100 Greatest Films” MSN MSN Entertainment (7/19/2018). “100 Best Movies” by Shahnaz Mahmud

Awards/Honors/Lists: Oscars: Wins: 5: Best Director – Steven Spielberg, Best Cinematography – Janusz Kaminski, Best Film Editing, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Effects Editing Nominations: 11, including Best Picture, Best Actor – Tom Hanks, Best Original Screenplay – Robert Rodat, Best Original Score – John Williams, Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Best Makeup Dave’s Movie Database Lists: Dave’s Movie Database Genre Lists: Awards: Other Lists/Honors: First posted 8/23/2019; last updated 5/27/2023.

Toy Story, the first fully computer-animated film, is released

Toy Story Released: November 22, 1995 Studio: Disney Genre: animation/comedy/family Box Office (numbers in millions): Domestic: 191.80 Worldwide: 373.60 Adjusted for Inflation: Domestic: 449.58 Worldwide: 744.30

Directing: John Lasseter Screenwriting: Joss Whedon, Andrew Stanton, Joel Cohen, Alec Sokolow Starring: voices of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles, Annie Potts, Wallace Shawn, Jim Varney, John Ratzenberger Review: Pixar Studios were pioneers in CGI animation, creating the Oscar-nominated short Luxo Jr. in 1986 and the Oscar-winning short Tin Story in 1988. In 1995, they took another great leap forward with Toy Story, the first feature-length film completely animated by computers. The groundbreaking special effects “were surpassed only by the intelligent, thoughtful script that had adult themes that both parents and their kids could relate to.” FS “It’s a perfectly formed story, about friendship, love, fear of abandonment, workplace politics and self-identity. While its ability to make you laugh is undiminished.” EM’18 The story focuses on a boy named Andy and his toys, who come to life when no humans are around. Cowboy Woody (Hanks) is the favorite. There’s also “Don Rickles as Mr. Potato Head, Wallace Shawn as Rex, a meek dinosaur, Jim Varney as Slinky Dog, John Ratzenburger as Hamm the Pig, and Annie Potts as Woody’s sweetheart, Bo Peep).” FS A rivalry ensues when Woody’s status as top toy is challenged by the “new hi-tech space and action-toy Buzz Lightyear (voice by Tim Allen)” FS which Andy gets for his birthday. The “doltish” AFI07 and “deluded Buzz believes he’s on a mission to save the planet” FS instead of a child’s toy. Woody and Buzz have to learn to work together, though, when they get “trapped in the house of Sid, a sadistic bully in the neighborhood.” FS “Groundbreaking computer animation creates the world of Woody, a toy cowboy who suddenly finds himself as the second-favorite toy. Replaced by the newer and very high tech, but doltish, Buzz Lightyear, Woody gets accused of killing Buzz by tossing him out the window. It’s a race to get him back. ‘To infinity and beyond!’” AFI07 Sources: AFI07 American Film Institute (2007). “AFI’s 100 Years…100 Movies – 10th Anniversary Edition” EM’18 Empire (3/20/2018). “The 100 Greatest Movies” FS Filmsite.org “100 Greatest Films”

Awards/Honors/Lists: Dave’s Movie Database Lists: Dave’s Movie Database Genre Lists: Oscars: Wins: 0 Nominations: 3 – Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Musical or Comedy Score (Randy Newman), Best Song (“You’ve Got a Friend”) Other Awards: Other Lists/Honors: First posted 5/28/2023.

Forrest Gump released

Forrest Gump Released: July 6, 1994 Studio: Paramount Genre: epic drama Box Office (numbers in millions): Domestic: 330.50 Worldwide: 680.50 Adjusted for Inflation: Domestic: 771.51 Worldwide: 1469.50

Directing: Robert Zemeckis Screenwriting: Eric Roth Starring: Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise, Sally Field Review: “Robert Zemeckis’ affable stroll through some of America’s most turbulent decades, as seen through the childlike eyes of the simple-but-successful Forrest — the role which earned Tom Hanks his second Oscar in two years.” E18 Gump, “who despite being mentally challenged, tries hard, is honest and places his trust in luck. He tells his life story to anyone who sits next to him at a bus stop.” A98 His story involves flashbacks which “follow Forrest and his good heart through some of the highlights of modern American history. Through the use of digital imagery, Forrest appears to interact in scenes with John F. Kennedy, John Lennon and George Wallace.” A98 “It says a lot about the film’s emotional heft that it managed to win an Oscar itself, when it was in competition with both Pulp Fiction and The Shawshank Redemption.” E18 Sources: A98 American Film Institute (1998). “AFI’s 100 Years, 100 Movies” E18 Empire (3/20/2018). “The 100 Greatest Movies”

Awards/Honors/Lists: Dave’s Movie Database Lists: Dave’s Movie Database Genre Lists: Box Office: Oscars: Wins: 6 – Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Tom Hanks), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Film Editing, Best Visual Effects Nominations: 13 – including Best Supporting Actor (Gary Sinise), Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Makeup/Hairstyling, Best Original Score, Best Sound, Best Sound Editing Awards: Other Lists/Honors: First posted 8/24/2019; last updated 5/29/2023.