Product: Casualties of War [UMD for PSP] (1989)
Rating: 2.0
Casualty of Brian De Palma
CASUALTIES OF WAR is one of many Vietnam War movies that came out in the late 80's as a result of the success of PLATOON. Unfortunately, it is one of the weakest. It's one of those movies that has a great premise (and cast - Michael J Fox and Sean Penn) but it is poor in it's final execution. By orders of Sgt Meserve (Penn) as retaliation to the death of his friend during combat, a U.S. platoon raids a village and kidnap a vietnamese girl. Then they take turns raping and eventually kill the girl. One of the platoon, Private Errikson (Fox) refuses to participate, and even goes as far to report the incident to his superiors. However, in typical twist of military fate and honor, he is branded as a traitor and is threatened by his the men in his platoon. Errikson/Fox endures a multitude of harrassment and is even almost killed. In some documentation of the making of this film, it was reported that Fox was unhappy with his character's lack of retaliation during the hazing sequences when he is branded a snitch. Fox had suggested to the director, De Palma, the scene where Pvt Errikson hits Pvt Clark (actor Don Harvey-EIGHT MEN OUT)in the face with a shovel out of frustration after an attempt is made on his life with a grenade. The story is based on a true account, however, the movie does not justify the end means. Penn's character is not likeable at all and very scary. Fox is always a presence, but perhaps the brutality and meaningless of what is done to the girl is not watchable as the Vietnam War itself is all ready a contoversial subject. To put this scenario in the forefront of what is all ready an unpleasant theme validates the proverbial "two-wrongs-don't-make-right".