The Thinking Person's War Movie

Rating: 10/10 (7 March 2005)

It's 1965, and maverick DJ, Adrian Cronauer, is despatched to South Vietnam to breath life into a moribund forces radio station.
Against a backdrop of mounting political violence, Cronauer, uses humour, honesty and compassion to win the hearts and minds of soldier and civilian alike.But, his unorthodox approach to life lands him in hot water with the authorities, and inevitably leads to his downfall.
"Good Morning Vietnam" was the archetypal feel good movie of the 1980s. Robin Williams is given free rein to express his considerable talents, delivering a master class in comic improvisation. A performance which he has sadly failed to better since.
The screenplay and soundtrack is drenched in period detail, complemented by some crisp photography which brings into sharp focus a city hovering on the brink of civil war.
For my money "Good Morning Vietnam" must surely figure as one of the most intelligent and well balanced movies to emerge from Hollywood. Nothing comes closer.