Rated #24 on IMDb’s Top 250 Movies, Saving Private Ryan is a visceral WWII epic that begins with the D-Day invasion of Normandy Beach. When the fog of war clears, Captain Miller (Hanks) is ordered to pull Private James Ryan from combat following the death of his three brothers in combat. The dangerous mission forces Miller and his squadron deep into German territory, where the survival rates decrease drastically. With The Rookie Season 7 slated for a May hiatus, it’s the perfect time to revisit Fillion’s brief but brilliant performance in Saving Private Ryan.
‘Saving Private Ryan’ Is One of the Best WWII Movies Ever Made
Easily one of the most gripping war movies on record, Saving Private Ryan bombards viewers from the opening salvo on Normandy Beach in 1944. Following the D-Day invasion, former school teacher, 2nd Ranger Battalion Captain John Miller (Hanks), who suffers from PTSD-related tremors, leads a ragtag squadron of infantry soldiers behind enemy lines.
Along with Miller, the squad includes second-in-command Horvath (Tom Sizemore), battle-scarred Caparzo (Vin Diesel), bible-thumping sniper Jackson (Barry Pepper), morbid jokester Mellish (Adam Goldberg), combat medic Wade (Giovanni Ribisi), cowardly corporal Upham (Jeremy Davies), and second-guesser, Reiben (Edward Burns). These men become like a family en route to locating Private Ryan and come to empathize with Ryan’s brotherly losses once they eventually find him.
Nathan Fillion Delivers an Unforgettable One-Scene Performance
Once Miller assembles a squad, they get a lead about Ryan’s whereabouts in France. Miller leads his men to their destination, a town called Neuville-au-Plain, where Caparzo compassionately tries to save a little girl abandoned in the street. Caparzo is suddenly shot and killed by a German sniper, sinking the squad’s morale to its lowest point.
A soldier runs into the foreground from a distance in a long shot. It’s Nathan Fillion as a soldier whose uncertainty speaks volumes. Before saying a word, Fillion conveys all there is to know about the soldier’s emotional and psychological status. He expresses terror, naivety, curiosity, and obedience silently at once, even tripping over a rock to reinforce how out of step and on unsure footing he is in this scenario. “Sir, Private Ryan reporting as ordered,” he dutifully states. Ryan’s youthful appearance and nervous glint in his eyes shook Miller.
Miller is introduced and wastes no time breaking the tragic news to Ryan. “Well, there isn’t any real easy way to say this, so I’ll just say it. Your brothers are dead.” The crestfallen, mouth-agape look of incredulity on Ryan’s face breaks Miller’s heart, as it does the audience.
Shocked to his core, Ryan stares at Miller in a fugue state as the Captain continues, “We have, uh, orders to come get you, cause you’re going home.” Ryan gasps, swallows, and breathes hard, trying to process the information. He begins weeping in the realization that, “Oh my god, my brothers are dead,” retreating into Hamill’s supportive arms.
Why Nathan Fillion’s ‘Saving Private Ryan’ Scene Holds Up
Spielberg brilliantly cuts between each squad member’s faces to put them in Ryan’s emotional headspace. As they reflect on Ryan’s loss, viewers are reminded of the heroic sacrifices the squad has made to get to this point. It’s impossible not to feel for Ryan during the scene, with heartfelt sympathy and compassion radiating throughout the squadron, including the unsentimental Reiben and Mellish.
After pouring tears into Hamill’s arms, Ryan asks, “How did they die?” Somewhat confused, Miller states, “They were killed in action.” Shaking his head, Ryan utters, “That can’t be. That can’t be. My brothers are still in grammar school,” while continuing to weep. When asked if he’s James Ryan, he says, “Yeah.” “James Francis Ryan from Iowa,” Miller states. “James Frederick Ryan from Minnesota,” the soldier states with voice-cracking relief.
Spielberg stays on Fillion’s face as his frenzied panic turns to calming relief, while the squad members behind him rise in frustration over the mix-up. “What, does that mean my brothers are okay?” asks Ryan. Miller impatiently says, “Yeah, I’m sure they’re fine. We’re looking for a different Private Ryan. This is just a big foul-up.” Unconvinced, Ryan becomes more upset and tearfully pleads:
“Are you sure they’re okay, though? How do you know, how could you be sure, how do you know the foul-up isn’t that his brothers are okay…I just wrote them a letter before I left. I gotta get home. I gotta get home right now.”
