Platoon - Review

"I think now, looking back, we did not fight the enemy; we fought ourselves. The enemy was in us" – A review of Platoon. 

Some war films feel like propaganda, whilst others – such as Platoon – feel like you've been dropped into the middle of someone's nightmare or traumatic memory. Written and directed by Oliver Stone and released in 1986, Platoon uses Stone's own Vietnam experience to create something honest and gritty, a war film that has truly stood the test of time and still stands out now.

The film follows Chris Taylor, a young American who volunteers for Vietnam and arrives full of idealism, only to realise almost immediately that he has stepped into complete chaos. The enemy isn't just out in the jungle though – it's in the platoon itself. Chris is caught between two powerful figures, Sergeant Barnes, who is terrifying and hard and Sergeant Elias, who is slightly softer and more humane. This split is at the heart of this film – on the one hand, there's survival no matter the cost, whilst on the other there's the belief that even in war, there should always still be a moral line that you do not cross. As the platoon becomes more paranoid and suffer more and more tragedy, Chris must make sense of what kind of man he's becoming and come to terms with the damage the war has done.

Platoon is an examination of the effects of war on ordinary people. Fear, exhaustion and power all have their own effects on people, which is evident when you consider Barnes and Elias especially, and the striking differences between the two men. This film really pushes home the ways in which war can change people, as well as the way that conflict is dehumanising for all people involved. The anti-war message is present and strong throughout – there are no glorifying battle scenes here, rather a realistic, horrifying glimpse at the horrors and torment faced by those on the front line.

Charlie Sheen is brilliant as Chris. He starts off with a believable softness, a sort of vulnerability, which slowly fades away over the course of the film. Tom Berenger's portrayal of Barnes is nothing short of unforgettable, coming across as both controlled and dangerous, with an edge of pure brutality which is genuinely unnerving. Elias, who is probably my favourite character, is played by Willem Dafoe – his portrayal is compassionate and full of soul, but never weak. This is a phenomenal cast, who all provide memorable performances which stay will you long after the credits have rolled.

Platoon certainly doesn't offer a romanticised idea of war or being in the jungle – it feels immediate, sweaty, cramped and absolutely terrifying. You're often right in the middle of the action, with poor visibility and danger coming at you from all angles, making you feel like you're right there with the characters. Couple the cinematography with sound design that rarely lets you relax, full of the sound of helicopters, gunfire and rustles from the jungle, and this is a film which refuses to soften the brutal reality of conflict.

I really enjoyed this film. I found it to be powerful, nightmarish and genuine, avoiding the traditional "war hero" tropes and instead focussing on fear, guilt and destruction. Whilst not always the easiest watch, Platoon is well worth it, and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys the war film genre.

Written by Tam Page

Posted by Mr. Tomney

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