Platoon
Category
War / Drama
Director
Oliver Stone
Cast
- Charlie Sheen
- Willem Dafoe
- Tom Berenger
- Forest Whitaker
- John C. McGinley
- Johnny Depp
Release Date
19 December 1986
Synopsis
A moving film depicting the harsh reality behind the Vietnam War, Oliver Stone's "Platoon" was an appropriate movie during that time because the attitude towards the Vietnamese veterans has started to cool down. This dramatic motion picture tells the story of a group of American soldiers stuck in the middle of the Vietnamese war and the "underworld" that exists behind the closed quarters of the American infantry during that dark period.
The story begins when a gang of newly-recruited US soldiers join a group of veteran army who have experienced a lot from the then ongoing war in Vietnam. Each of the main character is differentiated by his background, trademark weapon, and unusual habits as seen in the movie. Because of the death and torture of some of their comrades by the Vietnamese troops mixed with drug abuse, some of the soldiers started to lose their control and thus resulted into more tragic instances.
Prevalent issues during that time included drug use while on-duty, violent tendencies as an effect of horrific wars on an individual's psyche, and the unnecessary killings done by both the American soldiers and Vietnamese troops that destroyed the lives of many innocent civilians as they were helplessly trapped in the middle of the crossfire.
The depiction of brutal war crimes and a seamless plot made this war flick a recipient of several recognitions from a couple of prestigious award-giving bodies. The stunning performances of some of the actors also earned them award nominations.
The film was actually shot in the Philippines during the time of former President Marcos. Because of the Philippines' unstable political condition, the production crew encountered several scheduling difficulties. Even though the scenes were not shot in Vietnam, the similar tropical environment of the Philippines produced a realistic setting for this highly-recognized war/ drama flick.
A beautifully crafted dramatic piece, "Platoon" captures the attention of critics and audiences who had mixed opinions about the military conflict between Vietnamese and American troops. Despite the controversial nature of the film, it earned a spot among America's most recognized cinematic representations of the Vietnam War.