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"Innocence Lost" |
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Directed by Oliver Stone
- Written by Oliver
Stone
Starring Tom Berenger,
Willem Dafoe, Charlie
Sheen, Forest Whitaker
Distributed by Orion -
1986 - 120mins - Rated R |
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The first casualty of war is innocence. |
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As a war
film, "Platoon" excels, giving us a realistic and graphic look at the
Vietnam war. As a film about the people in the war, it, well, almost
succeeds. At least "Platoon" dares to do what very few war films try:
to give ever character a personality. This works, but we get so caught
up in which character is supposed to represent what (Is Willem Dafoe
Jesus? Is Tom Berenger the Devil?), that they become paintings of
characters rather than characters themselves. Other than that, I can't
complain. It's exciting, dark, and brutal. The ingredients of many a
good war film. Willem Dafoe steals the show as a kindly soldier. Dafoe
also has one of the best scenes in film history (is it supposed to be
the crucifixion?).
"Platoon" would have been better if Stone had been more clear in what
his intentions are. Is it an allegory, or are they just good and bad
people? I would have liked the film much better if it didn't have an
identity crisis and could settle on one or the other. |
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© Written by Jacob Hall -
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TC Candler's Comment
I cannot
say that I am a huge fan of this film.
However, I have not seen it twice and perhaps it
requires that second viewing. I will
revisit it sometime.
Richard Propes' Comment
Wonderful performances by
Charlie Sheen (quite surprising), Willem Dafoe
and Tom Berenger are featured in this Oliver
Stone flick. This is one of Stone's better
flicks, in my opinion, and it has aged well.
Definitely intense, but worth the watch. Ever so
often, I just have to watch this one again.
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