Why does it cut from old man Ryan going through flashbacks to the perspective of Miller on Omaha Beach?

Why does it cut from old man Ryan going through flashbacks to the perspective of Miller on Omaha Beach?

I found this strange as well. I wonder if Speilberg was intentionally trying to be deceptive to surprise the audience a bit at the end, or if it was simply a case of poor editing choices. If we're being real I'd say the film would be stronger overall without the bookending graveyard scenes.

Because the old man is pic related, the only survivor of both Omaha and Ramelle.

I used to think he was brave an traumatized.

Then I read a history book and realized the germans were out numbered, out gunned, and made up of 15-19 year olds and 45+ year olds.

Then I realized spielberg was a hack.

>I wonder if Speilberg was intentionally trying to be deceptive to surprise the audience a bit at the end

I've always assumed it was this.

Reiben, where's your BAR?!

dishonest filmaking

Say it with me lads

American """""contributions""""" in WWII

Even if that's true, OPs question is still relevant.

To shock us when Miller dies at the end and we find out the old guy is Ryan

>without the bookending graveyard scenes.
That would be a profoundly different film, and a very interesting idea.
It's almost the like the Damon "We salute you, Greatest Generation" sub plot specifically dates it to the millellium era, when all those guys started to die off en masse. A big hollywood send off for a generation of men (and a handful of vocal women) who are still effected by WWII today.

I love that movie, but this cheat keeps it from being one truly great.

It's worse than having Pesci narrate his own death in Casino.

Perspective in movies is weird. You say it's Miller's perspective I say it's Reiben looking at Miller or Reiben witnessing everything Miller is seeing. Miller being the first thing Reiben is looking at when we join him in the boat is a red herring.

Holy shit, what kind of dejection leads a man to bait as though he would die without (you)s. It is a sorry state!

Bottom of the channel, sonnuva bitch tried to drown me.

It probably was to deceive the audience, but the trick makes those graveyard scenes awkward and dead in the water on repeat viewings. And it endows the whole thing with laughable patriotism. The film would be WAY better without them.

Sad!

I thought the old man was millers son?

WHO'S DOIN' THE SHOOTIN....WHO'S DOIN' THE SHOOTIN'?!!

see

It's simply a mistake in the writing
Americans can't keep track of their own lies about their importance in WW2