Classic War Movie

Rating: 10/10 (27 April 2019)

In Platoon, Stone brilliantly accomplishes what he set out to do: to show the viewer what it would be like to be a new volunteer on the front "line" in Vietnam. By the time Charlie Sheen goes out on that first night ambush, I was totally immersed. I felt his fear and isolation. I was scared to death for him.
Sheen's character becomes less isolated, but he still can't trust everyone. I can't think of a picture that examines the divisions within a unit like Platoon does. Fear and distrust and tension are woven throughout the film. When I watched it the first time, I couldn't ever really untie the knot in my gut.
After repeated viewings you notice how Stone adroitly gets so many characters into the mix. He's got 23 soldiers (by my count) with lines, and almost all of them are fleshed out a little. The stars were great, but Stone gets fantastic performances from the whole cast (and many little-known actors, some of whom gave up acting). It's a remarkable ensemble.
Repeated viewings reveal some flaws, of course, but compared to what this film achieves, they are minor. There are a few operatic moments which I was willing to indulge the director because of his ability to create such an intimate look at a soldier's experience of war.