A Genre Masterpiece That Works Even Better As A Meditation On Morality

Rating: Null/10 (14 October 2013)

Painting a very grim but also realistic portrait of the horrors of war and also illustrating how it affects the psyche & moral ethics of even the bravest, Platoon is a terrific blend of expert direction, compact screenplay & engaging performances that is counted amongst the finest examples of warfare filmmaking and deservingly so.
Set during the Vietnam War, the story of Platoon follows a young American who drops out of college, enlists in the US army & volunteers for combat duty in Vietnam. Upon arrival, he finds himself caught in between two non-commissioned officers who are constantly at odds with each other, and has to battle with not just the enemy but also men within his own platoon.
Written & directed by Oliver Stone, Platoon presents the director brilliantly penning down his personal experience of Vietnam on the paper before bringing it to life in the form of moving images. Stone's direction is truly commendable for he knows what he wants this film to be and what it needs to reflect about war & the deep scars it leaves on anyone who ever was a part of it.
Vietnam is brought to life in detail thanks to its clever set pieces & well-chosen shooting locations. Cinematography keeps a safe distance from all the unfolding drama yet every captured moment has a story to tell. Editing is nicely carried out for the most part & provides a good pace to the narrative. And as for the music, 'Adagio of Strings' by Samuel Barber is a perfect companion piece to go with this war drama.
Coming to the acting department, Platoon features a splendid cast in Charlie Sheen, Willem Dafoe & Tom Berenger and all three of them shine in their given roles. Sheen plays the naive kid who volunteers for war in Vietnam where he undergoes a psychological meltdown of his own and his performance is compelling. Also adding more strength to the acting aspect are stellar inputs from both Berenger & Dafoe, with the latter being the most impressive of them all.
On an overall scale, Platoon is Oliver Stone's plea for humanity in the face of something as harrowing & psychologically damaging as war and is a heartbreaking illustration of the loss of innocence, morals & ethics that also says much about the duality of man. It's technically accomplished yet its real strength lies in the its script, direction & admirable performances from its cast. A memorable war drama that works even better as a powerful meditation on morality, Platoon comes highly recommended.