Lauded by audiences and critics alike for its authenticity, his goal was clearly met. Saving Private Ryan was nominated for 11 Academy Awards including Best Picture, earning Spielberg his second Oscar for Best Director. With 1998 production standards, Spielberg has been able to create a stunning, unparalleled view of war as hell. The landing on Omaha Beach was not about saving Pvt. Ryan. When Steven Spielberg made Saving Private Ryan he aimed to portray "the terrors and triumphs of D-Day as more than just make-believe." Ryan Hurst Paratrooper Michaelson Harrison Young Ryan as Old Man Dylan Bruno Private Alan Toynbe Max Martini Corporal Henderson Crew Steven Spielberg Director, Producer Alan Tomkins Art Director Allison Lyon Segan Co-producer Bonnie Curtis Co-producer Chris Seagers Art Director Dale Dye War Dept. Steven Spielberg, a child of the 1950s, grew up with stirring Hollywood dramas about the sacrifices of World War II. In Steven Spielberg's "Saving Private Ryan," thousands of terrified and seasick men, most of them new to combat, are thrown into the face of withering German fire. It all comes back to "Saving Private Ryan" for director Aaron Schneider. Even World War II veterans have stated that "Saving Private Ryan is the most realistic presentation of combat they've seen. Director Steven Spielberg has revisited this narrative-rich era a number of times during his career, alternately exploring the dramatic, adventurous, tragic and even humorous aspects of the age. Schneider was a rising cinematographer with a handful of credits ("Kiss the … That image became the opening scene of Saving Private Ryan, his film of a mission following the D-day invasion that many have called the most realistic--and maybe the best--war film ever. The film was also nominated for five Golden Globes, of which it won for Best Motion Picture and Best Director. Selected for more than 160 Top Ten lists, Saving Private Ryan's other honors include Golden Globes for Best Picture (Drama) and Best Director, the Producers Guild of America Award and ten nominations from the British Academy Film Awards. Colonel, Consultant/advisor Daniel Dorrance With 1998 production standards, Spielberg has been able to create a stunning, unparalleled view of war as hell. In Hollywood mythology, great battles wheel and turn on the actions of individual heroes. Saving Private Ryan was the top grossing motion picture of 1998. Saving Private Ryan was the highest earner among the Best Picture nominees with $194.2 million in domestic box office receipts. The film was followed by Shakespeare in Love ($36.5 million), The Thin Red Line ($30.6 million), Elizabeth ($21.5 million), and finally Life is Beautiful ($18.4 million). About the Film [+] Expand [+] Expand. That image became the opening scene of Saving Private Ryan, his film of a mission following the D-day invasion that many have called the most realistic--and maybe the best--war film ever.