Authentically Saving Private Ryan

The movie Saving Private Ryan, produce by the extremely well known Steven Spielberg, is one that Davidson and Lytle, authors of “When trouble comes,” a detailed analysis of war representation through film, would almost definitely describe as “authentic”.
The word “authentic” according to Davidson and Lytle refers to historical accuracy. According to these authors, authentic contrasts with the word “mythical,” explained by Davidson and Lytle as “deals with expectations rather than reality. (417)” The authenticity or reality of war is extremely well presented in this film.
Saving Private Ryan is about a group of soldiers during World War Two, who are sent on a mission to find and bring Private James Ryan home back to his mother. He is ordered to come home after his three brothers are killed during the war. This movie is mainly composed of Captain John H. Miller, played by Tom Hanks, along with his group of troops, encountering many different military obstacles on their conquest or wild-goose-chase, trying to reach Private Ryan.
This movie was shot in such a way that authenticity is very easily seen. There are many crucial details that may be overlooked, but in fact help prove or support the validity in this film.
One detail that is very important is how the cameras were used throughout the movie. During all of the fighting scenes the cameras actually move with the actors. The cameras give the viewer the feeling that they are actually part of the group, following the soldiers with their every step. This proves authenticity in the way that the cameras were positioned in angles that the real feeling of what it was like to be part of the action could really be experienced by the audience. Also, at certain points in the film, during various fight scenes, the cameras zoom in on Captain Miller. The lighting becomes a little tinted and the view becomes a little fuzzy. From there the camera shoots as if it is Captain Miller looking around almost in slow motion. Miller and the audience are able to see the atrocities that occur during war, with the slow motion to emphasize reflection on the historical reality.
The blood and guts throughout the movie also help support the idea of “authentic”. The producer of this movie is not trying to hide anything that really occurred during war. Spielberg shows the viewer the incredible amount of gore in order to show what actually occurs on the battlefield at time of vicious fighting. At one point in the first battle seen, Tom Hanks’s character gets sprayed with a comrade’s blood, and then lifts his helmet from the ground and empties it of blood. This detail shows the historical realness of what really happens during war.
Although there are many more details the few definitely helps to prove the idea that historical accuracy is demonstrated in this film. This gives support to the claim that Davidson and Lytle would view Saving Private Ryan as “authentic”.