Stone's passionate, meaningful war epic with Cruise at his charismatic best

Rating: 8/10 (6 February 2008)

Born on the 4th of July (1989)
Top 3 - 1989
Oliver Stone, a great American director, whose films often reflect the flaws in the country he loves and admires so much, brings us his second Vietnam based film (after the triumphant success that was Platoon).
The story of a young man, a patriot, willingly enrolling himself in the marines to go to fight the Communists in the aimless Vietnam War. Upon his arrival, Ron Kovic (Cruise) witnesses the horrors of wars. One day during combat he is shot in the back and paralysed, not being able to walk again. Upon his return in the United States, where he goes to a Veteran's hospital, a dirty, bleak place, underfunded by the government, where he learns that no one gives a sh*t about the war back in the US. Anyhow, the film tracks the story of Ron Kovic as he slowly becomes a fierce opposer of the war and joins other soldiers and civilians in the march against WAR.
Stone's film is superbly directed (Oscar Winner Best Director) and powerfully acted by Tom Cruise, in what is in my opinion, his best performance by a mile and the closest he has ever come to winning an Academy Award.
A respectable achievement and wonderful documentation of the horrific mistakes and coarse actions of governments and possibly 1989's Best film.
8/10