Each becomes familiar, not so much as a gung-ho, Dirty Dozen kind of unit, but as individuals handling the unthinkable in their own way. He doesn't appear until well into the film, when the men have already built up animosity about the mission, but wins them over with his low-key courage and devotion to his fellow soldiers. It's a relatively small part, but a crucial one, and Damon is ideal. Spielberg's ingenious cinematic techniques make the movie even more visceral. He leached much of the color out of the film stock, and used hand-held cameras that result in uneven framing.
Images slow down, or go grainy, and at times there are blood splatters on the lens.
The result recalls combat photography, and sets a powerful mood. I have small quibbles with Saving Private Ryan . Some have depicted it as an anti-war film, but really, it doesn't take a stand. It's about shifting priorities, and the bizarre reality that happens during wartime. And he brings a remarkable maturity to these dramas about one of life's most profound experiences.