Change Your Image
Chrieon
Reviews
Platoon (1986)
It's not a movie about the war, it's a movie against it!
Oliver Stone's very realistic and strong portrayal of the Vietnam war and how a young man (played by Charlie Sheen) and his own platoon (led and played by Tom Berenger and Willem Dafoe) are affected by it. Chris Taylor is based on Oliver himself, who was down there and fought and he if any other filmmaker should know about what happened down there while the ruling elite were rolling their thumbs.
The American Rambo-mythology is destroyed in a hell of napalms which are dropped by mistakes or even via order on their own, confusing battles where no one knows who is shooting at who or why, slaughter on innocents whose only guilt were being innocents, the fear of the unknown in an alien terrain, conflicts within the own lead, touchings of entire villages, rapes... well, the list can be infinite but most of what happened are included in this film with an intensive presence and thanks to Stone's directing feels like you are there fighting the war yourself. The final battle is one of the best and most realistic battles I've ever seen even though its nighttime it's probably the best, if not yet the most intensive night battles scenes ever filmed. When everything is over you realize that war is an incredibly destructive element which sadly the ruling elite and elected persons uses to serve his own interest wherever it's threat. This was a part of the American foreign policy, which tragically hasn't changed much.
The movie handles to be seen many times and might also be seen with and through critical eyes and I promise you the movie will grow, something 'anti-Stoners' totally have passed or even didn't care about and compares the movie with other movies and its sequences instead of letting it sink in as an experience. The acting has Oscar-quality, masterful and intimate photo, Samuel Barber's music adds a very special and depressing atmosphere and is almost describing, sound, screenplay and directing are near perfect. Without this film we wouldn't probably see some of todays antiwar movies. It is worth every prizes and should have won more. It's easy to understand why this movie is on the AFI's Top 100 Films List. It's not a film about the war, it's a film against the war.
In memoriam to those who fought in the Vietnam war and to the innocent people, mostly Vietnamese, who came in the line of fire. And not to forget; All respect to Oliver Stone.
10 stars out 10
"We're going to lose this war. I figure we've been kicking people's asses for so long, it's time we got ours kicked."
America Undercover: Persona Non Grata (2003)
Oliver Stone Presents The Uncomfortable Truth
Persona Non Grata [Pur'sownu'nân'gratu] An unwelcome person. [n] a person who for some reason is not wanted or welcome. [n] a diplomat who is unacceptable to the government to which he is sent.
Oliver Stone (Platoon, Born on the Fourth of July, JFK and recently Commandante) and his team take you to Israel and Palestine. The conflict seems to have no end except in a near distant future where the winner stand alone and the losers falls together. As visually moving as with any other Stone movie and With impressing cutting-techniques of a flow of images paralleling the interviewees' dialogs which provides a very interesting summary of the Israel/Palestinian conflict through the leading persons' stories on both sides. All this backed up with an esoteric soundtrack. He puts lots of weight on the Israel leaders' stories and the hunt for an interview with Yasser Arafat is portrayed. He also tries to balance interviews with civilians on the street from both sides along with a very intimate meeting with masked "freedom fighters", mostly young people with a normal life. It's clear that the conflict is about two people who are "sick & tired" and desperately show their powerlessness.
I found this documentary, or reportage, very interesting yet uncomfortable for the elite. I was surprised that so many were willing to express themselves even the most uncomfortable questions pressed by Stone. It felt like I was watching a news coverage on CNN with a heavy influence from the MTV cutting. Even though the camera is constantly unstable and seems heavy, some might find it annoying, but the person or situation in question makes it easy to ignore the fast cutting of images and sound. It's indeed very creative and 'Stoneish'. I say again very interesting and informative, but not so fair and balanced than I hoped, could have interviewed some more Israel civilians or their army and the settlers.
I saw it on the Stockholm Film Festival yet without subtitles, some people complained but I didn't find it that problematic, but it was one of few flaws. Except that I say to you if you are interested to see this:
Turn off "Survivor" and "Idol" and get educated. This is such a film.
I give it an 8 out of 10