'Most realistic' war film leaves fans 'unable to breathe' in 'painful' watch

Daily Record

26-06-2025

Oliver Stone's 1986 war film has been hailed as one of the greatest war movies of all time
Oliver Stone's 1986 war film has been lauded as one of the most profound war films ever made, due to its authentic and heart-wrenching depiction of life on the frontlines during the Vietnam War.
This is hardly surprising given that Oliver Stone, a Vietnam War veteran himself, was the first person who had served in the war to write and direct a Hollywood movie about it.
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Oliver reportedly penned the screenplay based on his own experiences as a US infantryman in Vietnam, aiming to challenge the portrayal of war in John Wayne's The Green Berets.
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Platoon, featuring a star-studded cast including Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe, Johnny Depp, Kevin Dillon, Keith David, John C. McGinley, and Forest Whitaker, was the first in a trilogy of Vietnam War films directed by Oliver. It was succeeded by Born on the Fourth of July (1989) and Heaven & Earth (1993).
Platoon presents a deeply moving narrative where a new US army recruit (Sheen) is deployed in Vietnam while his Platoon Sergeant (Berenger) and Squad Leader (Dafoe) grapple with the morality of their platoon's actions and the war at large, reports the Express.
Platoon was a resounding success at the box office, raking in $138.5 million worldwide against a modest production budget of $6 million.
The film achieved immense success, ranking as the third highest-grossing domestic film of 1986 in the US and Canada. Its excellence was further acknowledged with eight prestigious nominations at the 59th Academy Awards, where it claimed four awards: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Sound, and Best Film Editing.
On Rotten Tomatoes, Platoon boasts an impressive 89% critics' approval rating and a staggering 93% audience rating, demonstrating its enduring impact on both critics and audiences.
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One critic praised the film and its director, stating: "Oliver Stone's harrowing war picture was the first movie that felt like a genuine depiction of that terrible war, and brought collective catharsis for America's tragedy in Vietnam."
Another critic was thoroughly engrossed, commenting: "I didn't take a single note during the screening of Platoon: It's that engrossing, that overwhelming."
The film received widespread acclaim, with one critic writing: "Platoon is the best American combat movie since All Quiet on the Western Front, and may be the most realistic of all American war movies."
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Another critic hailed it as: "One of the most visceral and authentic war films ever made." Audiences also shared their admiration, with one viewer stating: "A powerful, painful, must-see film - an impassioned and riveting dispatch from the front that's at once a battle cry and a lamentation."
A fan praised the film, saying: "Everytime I watch this I notice something different. The most accurate and best movie about the Vietnam War that I have ever seen.
"The cast is outstanding, music, cinematography, just all incredible. Simply incredible movie."
Another viewer offered their glowing review: "Best war film ever made in my opinion. Excellent beyond words!".
Meanwhile, a particular viewer heaped accolades on the filmmaker: "Oliver Stone is a genius. A very important piece of cinema history."