Oliver Stone's Classic War Film Platoon: Movie Review:

Written and directed by filmmaker Oliver Stone, Platoon follows Private Chris Taylor as he navigates the realities of war. The movie, considered a classic almost from its release for Christmas 1986, won four Oscars including Best Picture and Best Director. The American Film Institute (AFI) has Platoon ranking 86 in 2007 "100 Years...100 Movies" list.

In 1967, the conflict in Vietnam was going hot and heavy with approximately 500,000 American troops serving in the war zone. Platoon brings the moviegoer into the heart of battle as seen through the eyes of a naïve, college dropout whose patriotism prompted his enlistment. Chris Taylor, played by Charlie Sheen, chronicles his experiences in letters to his grandmother, which allows the audience to understand the changes he is undergoing and gain insight into the other characters.

The remarkable ensemble cast prepared for filming by spending two weeks in the jungles of the Philippines surviving a Stone arranged boot camp that they were to keep in character throughout. The exhaustion and camaraderie developed during those two weeks show in the facing and voices of the men. Tom Berenger plays the war hardened Sergeant Bob Barnes currently on his 3^rd tour, whose mercenary mentality is chilling. He is the perfect foil for Willem Defoe's character. Sergeant Elias Groden is a gentler more philosophical and moral version of Barnes, with three tours of his own. Elias' disillusionment with the war spills over onto the young grunts he leads, as does, Barnes' no nonsense brutality. These two and the men they attract provide the tension needed to keep the non-combat scenes absorbing.

The combat scenes are brutal and terrifying. Cinematographer Robert Richardson was nominated for an Oscar and a BAFTA Film Award and won an Independent Sprit Award for his work on Platoon. These battles are fought in small spaces in dimly light ground and Richardson's work bringing it to the screen is exceptional.

The all-star cast is filled out with Forest Whitaker as Big Harold, Mark Moses at Lt. Wolfe, Johnny Depp as Private Gator Lerner, Kevin Dillion as Bunny, Francesco Quinn (Anthony Quinn's son) as Rhah, Reggie Johnson as Junior Martin, Keith David as King, and John C. McGinley as Sgt. Red O'Neill.

The 20^th Anniversary Edition of Platoon is available on DVD at the following online retailers.

Buy.com, cduniverse.com, Barnes&Noble.com, TigerDirect.com, and BestBuy.com.

Resources:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091763/, http://www.historyinfilm.com/platoon/plot.htm, http://connect.afi.com/site/DocServer/100Movies.pdf?docID=301