#86: Platoon (1986)

Oscar Winner:

Best Picture, Best Director, Best Film Editing, Best Sound

As long as there have been movies, the war genre has existed. Many of the early ones, especially the ones that were focused on WWII, were very much American propaganda. As the 70's came along, so did a new whole style of filmmaking. It was never more apparent than the approach to the Vietnam war in the films Apocalypse Now and The Deer Hunter. Several years after those revolutionary films, Platoon came about with what I believe as a more inviting style, yet still maintaing its artistic integrity.

Based on Oliver Stone's actual experience as a volunteer (yep, a volunteer!) in Vietnam, Charlie Sheen plays Chris, a naive college student who quickly learns what a war experience actually is. As the atrocities and violence of the war wage on, Chris begins to discover himself. A battle of good and evil in the form of Sgt. Elias (Willem Dafoe) and Sgt. Barnes (Tom Berenger) force the men within Chris' platoon to choose sides. A war within a war emerges as Stone explores the animalistic nature that comes both from physical and internal battles within man.

If a modern war film can be described as approachable, I think this is it. There are still some very violent and hard-to-watch scenes, but it's the strength of its characters that I believe made it win Best Picture. Especially with Dafoe and Berenger's characters. Dafoe is so hippie-like in his loving spirit and Berenger's is so menacing with his scarred grin, that I was totally shocked not to see them on AFI's list of Heroes and Villains. Their rivalry matches that of Ali and Frazier, and although the material is very dramatic, it's a lot of fun to watch. It's also really entertaining to see all the now famous actors that got their start in this film. There's the great character actor Keith David, Forest Whitaker, Kevin Dillon (Entourage), John C. McGinley (Scrubs), Johnny Depp and many more.

The downfall of Platoon is the use of voiceover. Too many times Stone uses Chris to literally tell us what he is feeling instead of showing us. It's a very gripping film that holds your attention the whole time, but it's not one for me that draws me to come back. That said, I think it's a must see, especially if you like the war genre at all. It's a little bit easier to swallow than other war films and definitely holds up today.

I give Platoon 4 out of 5 night watches.

Frost/Nixon (2008)

Although I was not alive during Nixon’s presidential term, the effects of his actions can still be felt today.  Whether it was his impeachment hearings or the Vietnam War, any current, negative political act seems to trace back to Nixon’s decisions.  I don’t know how accurate actor Frank Langella’s portrayal of Richard Nixon is, but he captures the presence of a broken and powerful man perfectly.  It’s not the characteristics that he presents that stand out as much as the traits of a man whose ego and strengths were both so big that they led to his ultimate downfall.  Besides for some, I thought, unnecessary setup at the beginning, the brilliance of this film was how it summed up a man’s legacy with interactions with David Frost (Michael Sheen).  Frost isn’t quite as intriguing as Nixon, although he is given just as much screen time, but what shines through is the power of the T.V. interview and that with just the right words, nobody is susceptible to scrutiny.  The dialogue between Frost and Nixon are fascinating.  You can’t help but get into the drama of things although the ending is pretty predictable.  Ron Howard’s direction is solid but a little unforgettable due to the fact that Langella’s performance carries the film.  His version of the flawed man makes the whole thing worth watching and will make you forever ponder what has and will drive America’s presidential leaders of both the past and the future.  I give Frost/Nixon 4 out of 5 Italian shoes.