"Platoon"-all about Vietnam

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 5, Issue 8, 21 July 1987, Page 4

"Platoon"-all about Vietnam

Oliver Stone's realistic, gutwrenching Platoon plunges us into the thick of the horror known as the Vietnam war like the fate of its unfortunate protagonists. By concentrating on a group of draftees who sud-

denly find themselves in that strange and terrifying environment, his film also examines the madness that is inherent in such conditions. This is no flag-waving patriotic hymn, but an al-

most documentary-like, no-holds-barred coverage of what it was really like in that particular hell-hole. A strong cast is headed by Charlie Sheen as new recruit, Chris Taylor through whose eyes the drama is seen. Tom Berenger, in a complete about-face from most of his previous roles, is potent as Sergeant Barnes, the platoon's gung-ho militarist with the scars to prove it. In contrast, Willem DaFoe's Sergeant Elias has managed to retain his conscience and feelings and these two provide an edgy conflict within the group itself. Kevin Dillon (Matt's brother), is Bunny, the young, eager-to-kill kid always on the verge of exploding. Also from an acting family is Francesco Quinn (Anthony's youngest son) in the role of the spaced-out Rhah. It is into the dope-smokers fraternity that Taylor finds himself initiated - but no amount of drug-taking can hold back the realities of their situation. Writer, director Stone (Salvador) has recreated the experience he actually shared with so many others when he was a soldier in Vietnam. Platoon is not a film we might have expected to see a few years back. Viewed now from a relative distance, it can be more honestly assessed, but its scars are obvious in every frame. It's strong stuff in a well-crafted, disturbing film.