Cruise grows up

Rating: Null/10 (27 February 2003)

BORN ON THE FOURTH OF JULY (1989) **** Tom Cruise, Raymond J. Barry, Caroline Kava, Willem Dafoe, Kara Sedgwick, Frank Whaley, Lili Taylor, Abbie Hoffman, Tom Berenger. Searingly poignant biopic about Ron Kovic (Cruise in his Oscar-nominated role) who goes from idealistic gung-ho grunt in Vietnam to causality of war when he's left paralyzed from combat and returns an embittered man-beyond-his-years protesting activist. Excellent ensemble and direction by Oliver Stone (who won an Oscar also). Look for the real Kovic in a parade sequence.