AFI Top 100: #71
I am very upset with the fact that no one told me the titular character in this film is played by Matt Damon because I would have watched this a lot sooner if I knew so. Steven Spielberg's WWII epic Saving Private Ryan is a fantastic war film and one that lets its cast of characters carry the entire story. Even though this film has its very predictable, emotional points due to Spielberg's style, it actually surprised me with how gruesome and violent this story was. Spielberg is mostly known for showing humanity in people regardless of the events they are going through and while he is still able to do that for this film, he is also unafraid to graphically show the horrors of war. This lack of restraint is what ups the ante for this film immensely and makes it such an undeniable classic. Along with a simple but effective script and performances that lead the charge, this movie is one of the most important war films of the 20th century and one that does so with the utmost of grace and power.
As the mortifying events of D-Day shook the world in 1944, Captain Miller (Tom Hanks) returns back to his camp after losing dozens of men. He is then informed of a young private named James Ryan (Matt Damon) who has lost three of his brothers to the war. Along with the help of some men, Miller is tasked with locating Private Ryan and sending him home to his mother. While Spielberg has tackled certain subjects set during WWII before (i.e. Schindler's List), his American perspective proves to be his most patriotic one yet. The first twenty or so minutes of this film is some of the most terrifying material I have ever seen. While I have heard of the notoriously violent nature of this film's prologue, I never expected it to impact me that much, especially coming from Spielberg. This is not to say that I did not think he had the power to create such a viscerally grotesque sequence but rather that his style of filmmaking typically is not this graphic. The way he handles this entire beach opening, however, is immaculate and the perfect use of sound mixing, cinematography, and storytelling is incredible. In just the first twenty minutes, it is earnestly revealed what kind of person Captain Miller is and the honest way that he treats and cares about the men under his jurisdiction. Spielberg is such a master at this kind of character development and although the rest of the film is not necessarily as gruesome as its opening, the dialogue throughout proves to be just as subtly powerful. Spielberg and screenwriter Robert Rodat put their skills together in the most fluent way possible to make Saving Private Ryan very engaging. None of the heart and emotion in this film would be there without Spielberg's understanding of the human spirit and none of the balance between characters and action would be there without Rodat's understanding of story flow. These two work together so well and although the plot itself did not exactly entice me, their combined creative efforts do a fantastic job of getting me invested in the story.
Tom Hanks and Matt Damon have shown throughout the years that they are some of the most talented actors of their generation and this movie only enforces that idea. Hanks is phenomenal as Captain Miller, bringing an unbridled sense of hope and passion for his country. The reveal that Miller used to be a schoolteacher before joining the army was such a revelation not only for his character but for Hanks too. This story point proves to the audience how perfect the casting of Hanks was, as I was initially doubtful of his ability to portray a hardened military officer. Miller being revealed to be a schoolteacher makes so much sense in the landscape of this script and Hanks completely embodies the humble and loving aura that his character was known for before the war. Damon is just as excellent in this movie and although he may have had less screentime than Hanks, he carries his own with just the right amount of emotional resiliency. The score from John Williams, just like most of Spielberg's films, really helps to enhance the atmosphere throughout. The patriotic and proud feeling that is impossible to avoid because of Williams' score was very prominent and it is hard not to get emotional, especially in the last moments of this film. His music also helps the action scenes very much with its triumphant and relentless feeling and I adore the way that he is able to tell a whole story in just the music. My issues with Saving Private Ryan, although they might seem belittled because of how unimportant they are to the conclusion of the film, are that there are certain scenes used for dramatic contrast which instead end up coming off as comedy. In the prologue, there is a moment in which a soldier is shot in his helmet, takes off his helmet, and then is promptly shot in the head. This is very tragic to watch unfold but honestly, at the moment, I couldn't help but laugh. This humorous undercutting of the drama happens in the second act as well, when Miller and his men find "Private Ryan" but it ends up being the wrong Private Ryan. I thought this moment was hilarious more than anything and while I'm certain misunderstandings like this actually happened, it felt funnier than what I'm sure Spielberg intended.
There is an evident reason why Saving Private Ryan has become known as such a landmark in the history of war storytelling. Spielberg was the perfect man to helm this film and his balance of trademark, Amblin heart with the horrific recreations of events of this war make for one of his most challenging films to date. Hanks and Damon are absolute magic in this movie and being a critic of the war genre in general, I was hesitant about this story but was quickly proven wrong. Never forget the veterans that died for our country but also never forget that almost all of the men in this film died for Matt Damon. Hell, if I was them, I would do the same.
My Rating: ★★★½
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