3. Saving Private Ryan
Saving Private Ryan has been both a blessing and a curse when it comes to World War II movies (or any war movie for that matter). Steven Spielberg’s epic tale is quite simply amazing, but set the bar so high that nothing which has followed has ever managed to quite top it. The cast was incredible, but it was through Tom Hanks’ Captain Miller that we were given a clear protagonist to experience the story through, helped by the fact that the actor made him so much more than just another soldier.
It would be yet another role which saw Hanks nominated for an Oscar, and that really should come as no surprise when he delivered such a layered and memorable performance. Tasked with a terrible job, it is up to Phillips to remain calm for the sake of him men – on the outside at least – while simultaneously being aware of the lives he is responsible for. The scene in which he breaks down and cries while hidden from his men should make it obvious why this particular Tom Hanks performance made the cut.
