PLATOON

Review: Chris Taylor leaves behind his university studies and decides to enlist in combat duty in Vietnam in 1967. While out in Vietnam he finds himself caught between two sergeants, one good and the other evil.
Director: Oliver Stone
Actors: Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe, Keith David, Forest Whitaker, Francesco Quinn, Kevin Dillon, John C. McGinley, Reggie Johnson, Mark Moses, Corey Glover, Johnny Depp, Chris Pedersen, Bob Orwig, Corkey Ford, David Neidorf, Richard Edson and Tony Todd
Year: 1986
Genre: Drama, Tragedy and War
Conclusion: 5/5
This is one of the first films to tell the story about the Vietnam War. Oliver Stone based this story on his own experiences and it took him ten years to get his script made. Platoon was also a novel by Dale A. Dye, who served on active duty in the Marine Corps for twenty years and retired as captain. Both Keanu Reeves and John Cusack turned down the part of Chris Taylor. I enjoyed the atmosphere in this which made it to be a more powerful film. It isn’t an easy watch by far due to it being so painful because of its subject matter. The theme music heard throughout the film is named, “Adagio for Strings” by composer Samuel Barber, was also used for the final scene in The Elephant Man (1980). The main themes are the dehumanizing nature of war and loyalty and betrayal. Apparently, the film is “Dedicated to the men who fought and died in the Vietnam War”. At the Academy Awards in 1987 this won 4 Oscars. They were for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Sound and Best Film Editing. At the Bafta Awards in 1988 this won for Best Direction and Best Editing. At the Golden Globe Awards in 1987 this won 3 Awards. They were for Best Motion Picture – Drama, Best Director – Motion Picture and Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture (Tom Berenger).