A Timeless Classic

Rating: 10/10 (26 January 2013)

It's over 25 years since I first saw Platoon. The highest praise I can give it is that I've seen only a handful of films since that come remotely close to it's utter perfection.
Without going into unnecessary detail, the movie is a claustrophobic, multi-layered Vietnam war film. Primarilly it's Oliver Stone's semi-autobiographical tribute to young men at war. It's an unapologetic, unflinching look at the brutal chaos of fighting at the coal face, with all the associated moral turmoil and paralysing fear brought vividly to life. It's also a universal morality fable.
It's plot is deceptively simple but essentially timeless, and that's one of the things I love about it: Platoon is perfect in it's scope and execution. It's depth is derived from it's characters (portrayed so well by a cast containing many young actors who's careers later blossomed) and by it's authenticity.
It doesn't pander to the audience, it doesn't attempt to explain all the intricacies of warfare in Vietnam (equipment, tactics, military language). It's often confusing, dark and disorientating. It requires / demands repeated viewings to appreciate the fuller picture.
The principal characters are perfect in their conception: Chris as narrator and moral barometer, link to the viewer, who leads us through the various traumatic phases of survival from clueless raw recruit to seasoned fighter. Barnes as deranged leader, Captain Ahab, the alpha warrior obsessed in his pursuit of the elusive (Moby Dick) NVA regardless of cost to himself or others. And Elias, the counter balance love to Barnes's hate, the philosopher soldier who fights despite his realisation of the futility of the cause.
The supporting cast, the aforementioned members of the Platoon, the crew of the Pequod, are also such an important part of the whole. They give perfectly balanced depth to the script and many of the pivotal moments revolve around them: they are not relegated to mere background chaff.
Ultimately, what remains after some 25 years is Stone's utter love and respect for the bravery and sacrifice of young men who fought and died for each other, regardless of political motive, and his anger at such futile waste.