Oliver Stone's Haunting Vietnam Masterpiece

Rating: Null/10 (8 December 2001)

There has been much debate about what was the best film of the 1980s. "Platoon" deserves real consideration. I don't think it was the best (I am partial to "Raging Bull"), but "Platoon" is easily in the top five of that decade. Writer-director Oliver Stone's experiences in Vietnam were the catalysts for this amazing masterpiece which won four Oscars in 1986, including the Best Picture of the year. Young Charlie Sheen experiences a year of hell as he witnesses atrocities and learns first-hand that innocence is the initial casualty of warfare. At the heart of "Platoon" is the conflict between veteran sergeants Tom Berenger and Willem Dafoe (both Oscar-nominated). Berenger is crazed and has distorted views about war. His twisted views will lead to conflict with peaceful and deep-thinking Willem Dafoe who acts as the voice of reason in a time and place of total chaos. Sheen, Berenger and Dafoe all have the best performances to date. They are solid in every way imaginable. Familiar faces like John C. McGinley, Keith David, Johnny Depp, Forest Whitaker, Kevin Dillon and Tony Todd are all perfect in limited, but important screen time. Oliver Stone, regardless of what else he has done or will do, will always be remembered for his stunning creation of this film. A true modern-day masterpiece. 5 stars out of 5.