Elements: Close-ups

In the film 'Saving Private Ryan', in the the Omaha Beach scene, there
are many times when the Close-up shot is used. Some of these times
were when you saw Tom Hanks' hand shaking prior to the battle and many
times when the camera would close in onto someones face. The close-up
shot is used in this scene to show fear, nervousness and the lack of
confidence the soldiers have. For example the close up shot of Tom
Hanks' hands when they are shaking shows me that he is nervous, but it
also shows me that even though he is the leader of his group and that
he should be confident and boosting his soldiers, he cannot help but
to be frightened. The element of close-up shots impacts the scene
because it does not only show the fear of the team in a brief, passing
shot, it shows the fear in each and every individual. Showing fear in
every individual creates more meaning because you think of how each
soldier must have a family back home that he wants to see again.