Cruise's finest hour.

Rating: 10/10 (30 November 2000)

Born on the fourth of July is, to use a chiché, a Powerhouse film: a film full of weight, from Cruise's knockout performance, Stone's bold script and Direction, Richardson's classy photography to Williams pitch-perfect score.

Tom cruise portrays Ron Kovic with astonishing depth, showing the naive idealism from when he was 17 with eager enthusiasm, through to the bitter war veteran with political ambitions. Cruise delivers a fine performance, my favourite of his, because of the gritty emotion he shows through out. The disillusionment, the pain of going through hospital treatment, the depression, the anger in demonstrating, ALL that he suffers, we feel too because of the writing in cruise's character's script, because of Stone's direction, and because of Cruises acting. This is his finest hour.

Born on the fourth of July is not a happy trip, but by the end of the film you are not depressed, you are left wondering and bewildered at the experience of one man, Ron Kovic (who co-wrote the script), and the pain, suffering and re-building which his life had to endure.

a must see for any cruise fan (who doesnt mind him a bit uglified) and anyone who appreciates good acting and direction from a director in his prime (for which Stone was rewarded an Oscar).