"Ya smoke this sh*t so to escape from reality? Me, I don't need this sh*t. I am reality. There's the way it ought to be, and there's the way it is. " - SSgt. Barnes

Rating: 9/10 (1 June 2005)

#1 Best Film of 1986
Marvelous, Incredible, Powerful, Amazing. Those are just a few words to describe Oliver Stone's first Vietnam picture. It's a film so groundbreaking and authentic, that it takes the place as the very best film ever, ever made about Vietnam. Stone truly knows the hardships and terrors Vietnam had in store for every soldier involved, he knows this from his own experience (he fought in Vietnam as an infantry man -- he obviously survived). I'm pretty sure Oliver Stone places some of his own terrifying experiences in this war flick, but I don't know for sure. All I know is whatever Stone based the situations and experiences in this on (or if he didn't base it on anything at all), he succeeds in thrilling and enthralling us throughout the entire runtime of 'Platoon'.
The film takes place in the middle of the Vietnam conflict, and follows Private Chris Taylor (Charlie Sheen). He's a honest, young soldier, who experiences horrors in war that change him forever. Besides fighting the enemy, Pvt. Taylor finds himself smack-dab in the middle of a brutal conflict between the American soldiers, involving a hardened, ruthless, and cruel scar-faced staff sergeant, Barnes (Tom Berenger), and a laid back, liberal hippie Sergeant, Elias Grodin (Willem Dafoe), who befriends Pvt. Taylor. Pvt. Taylor gets involved with this, and there's no predicting what happens next, in this macabre war story filled to the brim with deception, violence, treachery and life-changing decisions. This true to life Vietnam tale packs an all-star cast including Forest Whitaker (Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai), Francesco Quinn (Indio), John C. McGinley (TV's Scrubs), Kevin Dillon (The Doors), Keith David (Pitch Black), Tony Todd (Candyman), Chris Pedersen (Point Break) and a young Johnny Depp (Pirates of the Caribbean, Finding Neverland), back when no one knew who he was.
One of the many things that make this Best Picture winner so great, is Oliver Stone's keen and meticulous sense of direction and especially authenticity (for example, when the men are sitting around waiting for battle they are covered in insects, and exhausted from the hot sun and humidity of the jungle.) This is definitely Stone's greatest directorial achievement, and it's also his very best film. Oliver Stone also delivers a riveting screenplay with many scenes of engaging dialogue and interesting conversations (which were probably very close to what the real soldiers who fought over there talked about, ie, drugs (sometimes), women, what they are going to do when they get out, sports teams, etc.) The acting is nothing short of amazing in this romp of a film. Charlie Sheen is very convincing as the main character/narrator trying to adapt to the harsh life-style U.S. soldiers had to endure over in the swamps, jungles and trenches of Vietnam. Sheen's father, Martin Sheen, had a very similar role in 1979 Best Picture nominee 'Apocalypse Now' also about the Vietnam war conflict. Tom Berenger is absolutely amazing (in his very best screen or television performance) as the ruthless and diabolical, yet clever and calculating SSgt. Barnes. Berenger's acting goes as far as to give you goose bumps in certain scenes, along with a powerful and unmarred performance by Willem Dafoe (who along with Berenger received an Academy Award nomination, for his turn as the laid-back pot-smoking sergeant, who serves as a father-figure almost to Sheen's character.) Forest Whitaker is good in his role, and John C. McGinley is comical yet cultivated performance as SSgt. Barnes' lap dog, Kevin Dillon plays an impressive psycho and Johnny Depp is nothing short of sublime in his unfortunately short screen time. 'Platoon' has very few downsides (I felt it ended a little abrupt), but the other outstanding qualities of 'Platoon' pretty much make up for it.
'Platoon' is an incredible accomplishment, and it's one of the few films that actually deserved the Academy Award title of Best Picture. The film features top-notch acting (especially from Berenger and Dafoe), an excellent screenplay, mind-blowing cinematography and visuals, a powerful musical score, marvelous direction, and a hell of a lot of energy. If you haven't already, view the impressive Vietnam war epic that is 'Platoon'. Grade: A-
MADE MY TOP 300 LIST AT #45