Oliver Stone's affecting account of Vietnam's aftermath

Rating: 8/10 (2 July 2002)

First, a confession: I am a HUGE fan of Oliver Stone. Second, I was born in 1983, so I never personally experienced any of the stuff this movie deals with.
Whose heart wouldn't break for Ron Kovic when he finds out that not only will he never walk again, he's also been castrated--by an enemy's bullet in a war he volunteered for. When he is finally rehabilitated enough to go home, he receives something less than a hero's welcome, and he can't shake all the horrible things he did while fighting. The government won't give much money to help the Vietnam veterans and Ron feels betrayed by his country, by his community, and by his family. Born on the Fourth of July deals with all these elements masterfully. However, the whole excursion to Mexico was just confusing and weird, and I think it could have been handled better.
Still, it picks up again by the end, and this film makes it easy to see why Oliver Stone is one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. Stone pours his soul in every film he makes, especially the ones that involve the Vietnam War in some way. He makes people think less of how "right" it is to become embroiled in a conflict, and more of the unending pain that involvement inevitably causes, the wounds that never heal, the losses never regained.

Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Veterans Day have become excuses for backyard barbecues, trips to the shore on the long weekend, and ten percent off all recliners at the furniture store. This is a crying evil. Films like Born on the Fourth of July serve to remind us of just how jaded Americans have become. Oh look at us, we're so freaking great, everybody wave your miniature American flags at the crippled veterans living from tiny disability check to tiny disability check! This may not be Oliver Stone's finest film (look to Platoon or JFK for that), but it is definitely an eye-opener for all the nutty jingoists and ignorant patriots out there.

Rent it, buy it, do whatever you have to do, but everyone in the world should see Born on the Fourth of July at least once.