Born on the Fourth of July

Rating: 8/10 (3 July 2006)

This is one of those quite memorable Vietnam films with not much war in it, and the first from Oscar and Golden Globe winning director Oliver Stone (Platoon, Natural Born Killers). Based on a true story, and the film being produced by Stone and the man himself, Golden Globe winning, and Oscar and BAFTA nominated Tom Cruise plays Ron Kovic, a Vietnam hero who was paralysed, he cannot use his legs anymore. At first the film looks like a real war film, but it is after Kovic is paralysed that it focuses more on his struggles, life after and him remembering the war. Also starring Raymond J. Barry as Mr. Kovic, Caroline Kava as Mrs. Kovic, Josh Evans as Tommy Kovic, Jamie Talisman as Jimmy Kovic, Anne Bobby as Suzanne Kovic, Samantha Larkin as Patty Kovic, Tom Berenger as Recruiting Gunnery Sgt. Hayes, Tom Sizemore as Vet - Villa Dulce, Mike Starr as Man #1 - Arthur's Bar, Oliver Stone himself as News Reporter, Willem Dafoe as Charlie - Villa Dulce and look out for Wayne Knight. It won the Oscar for Best Film Editing, Best Cinematography, Best Music for John Williams, Best Picture, Best Sound and Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium, it was nominated the BAFTA for Best Adapted Screenplay, and it won the Golden Globes for Best Motion Picture - Drama, Best Screenplay and Best Original Score. Tom Cruise was number 32 on The 100 Greatest Movie Stars, he was number 25 on The 100 Greatest Sex Symbols, and he was number 81 on The 100 Greatest Pop Culture Icons, and the film was number 19 on The 100 Greatest War Films. Very good!