Platoon is a 1986 American war film written and directed by Oliver Stone and stars Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe and Charlie Sheen. It is the first of Stone's Vietnam War trilogy, followed by 1989's Born on the Fourth of July and 1993's Heaven & Earth. The film won the Academy Award for Best Picture of 1986.
Plot[]
In 1967, Chris Taylor (Charlie Sheen) has dropped out of college and volunteered for combat duty in Vietnam. Assigned to Bravo Company, near the Cambodian border, he is worn down by the exhausting conditions and his enthusiasm for the war wanes. One night his unit is set upon by a group of North Vietnamese Army (NVA) soldiers, who retreat after a brief gunfight. New recruit Gardner is killed while another soldier, Tex, is maimed by friendly fire from a grenade thrown by Sergeant "Red" O'Neill (John C. McGinley), with Taylor being mistakenly reprimanded by the ruthless Staff Sergeant Bob Barnes (Tom Berenger). Taylor eventually gains acceptance from a tight-knit group in his unit who socialize and take drugs in a cabin clubhouse. He finds a mentor in Sergeant Elias (Willem Dafoe) as well as the elder King (Keith David).
During one patrol, a soldier named Manny is found mutilated and tied to a post while two others, Sal and Sandy, are killed by a booby-trap. As tension mounts, the platoon soon reaches a nearby village where a supply cache is discovered. Taylor finds a disabled young man and an elderly woman hiding in a spider hole. Taylor snaps, screaming and threatening the man but is shocked to see Bunny (Kevin Dillon) then bludgeon him to death. Barnes interrogates the village chief to determine if they have been aiding the Vietcong. Despite the villagers' adamant denials, Barnes shoots and kills the chief's wife due to her persistent crying. Barnes takes the child of the woman at gunpoint, threatening to shoot her if the villagers do not reveal information. Elias arrives, scolding Barnes and engaging in a scuffle with him over the incident. Platoon commander Second Lieutenant Wolfe (Mark Moses) orders the men to leave with the villagers and burn the village. As they leave, Taylor stops a group of soldiers sexually abusing two girls.
Upon returning to base, Captain Harris (Dale Dye) warns that if he finds out an illegal killing took place, then a court-martial would be ordered, which concerns Barnes as Elias might give a testimony. On their next patrol, the platoon is ambushed and becomes pinned down in a firefight, in which numerous soldiers are wounded. Wolfe calls in an artillery strike to incorrect coordinates, resulting in friendly fire. Elias takes Taylor and Rhah (Francesco Quinn) to intercept flanking enemy troops. Barnes orders the rest of the platoon to retreat, and goes back into the jungle to find Elias' group. Barnes finds Elias and shoots him, returning to tell the others that Elias was killed by the enemy. After they take off, a wounded Elias emerges from the jungle, running from a group of North Vietnamese soldiers. Taylor glances over at Barnes and reads the apprehension on his face as Elias dies. At the base, Taylor attempts to talk his group into retaliation when a drunken Barnes enters the room and taunts them. Taylor attacks him but is cut near his eye as a result.
The platoon is sent back into the combat area to maintain defensive positions. King is sent home and Taylor shares a foxhole with Francis (Corey Glover). That night, an NVA assault occurs and the defensive lines are broken. Several soldiers in the platoon including Junior, Bunny and Wolfe, are killed, while O'Neill barely escapes death by hiding under a dead soldier. To make matters worse, an NVA sapper armed with explosives rushes into battalion HQ, self-detonating and killing everyone inside. Meanwhile, Captain Harris orders his air support to expend all remaining ordnance inside his perimeter. During the chaos, Taylor encounters Barnes, but the wounded sergeant attacks him. Just before Barnes can pummel Taylor, both men are knocked unconscious by an explosion. Taylor regains consciousness the following morning, picks up an enemy Type 56, and finds an injured Barnes, who dares him to pull the trigger. Taylor shoots Barnes, killing him. Taylor then considers suicide with a grenade before reinforcements arrive and find him. Francis, who survived the battle unharmed, deliberately stabs himself in the leg and reminds Taylor that because they have been wounded, they can return home to the U.S. O'Neill, who desperately wants to go home, is told he will remain in duty and replace Barnes. The helicopter flies away and Taylor weeps as he stares down at the death and destruction.
Trivia[]
- Platoon, released in 1986 and winner of four Oscars (best film, best director, cinematography and screenplay), was filmed in the Philippines and is considered by many critics to be one of the best war films in history.
- Directed by filmmaker Oliver Stone, it portrays the experiences lived by soldier Chris Taylor (Charlie Sheen) in 1967, which gradually changes throughout his time in Vietnam. Taylor is a young, middle-class idealist who voluntarily enlisted to serve in Vietnam during the war.
- The film is violent, dramatic and addresses, more specifically, how human nature can manifest itself in a war environment. Another important aspect is Taylor's relationships with the other soldiers and with the two Sergeants who share leadership of the platoon: the idealist Elias Grodin (Willem Dafoe) and the violent Bob Barnes (Tom Berenger). Platoon presents a realistic view of war. Director Oliver Stone, like Taylor, volunteered to serve in Vietnam between 1967 and 1968. When he joined the 25th Infantry Division, the same one Oliver Stone served in in real life, Taylor realized that the group was led by an inexperienced lieutenant, who made the troops follow the orders of Sergeants Barnes and Elias. The following behaviors and feelings were observed and practiced in American soldiers: out-of-control violence at times; drug use during brief moments of relaxation; fear and tension during patrols in the forests; and the constant struggle for survival.
- A moment of great tension is the massacre in the village of “My Lai” in March 1968, in southern Vietnam, where a mass murder of Vietnamese civilians by American troops took place.
- This unforgettable classic is engaging, unpredictable, and keeps the viewer feeling as if they were experiencing each combat situation. The focus of the film is on the platoon and not on the enemies. The humanization of each soldier is another striking factor. There is no country that benefits from a prolonged war.
Cast[]
- Charlie Sheen as Chris
- Tom Berenger as Sgt. Barnes
- Willem Dafoe as Sgt. Elias
- Keith David as King
- Forest Whitaker as Big Harold
- Francesco Quinn as Rhah
- Kevin Dillon as Bunny
- John C. McGinley as Sgt. O'Neill
- Reggie Johnson as Junior
- Mark Moses as Lt. Wolfe
- Corey Glover as Francis
- Johnny Depp as Lerner
- Chris Pedersen as Crawford
- Bob Orwig as Gardner
- Corkey Ford as Manny
- David Neidorf as Tex
- Richard Edson as Sal
- Tony Todd as Warren
- Kevin Eshelman as Morehouse
- Terry McIlvain as Ace
- J. Adam Glover as Sanderson
- Ivan Kane as Tony
- Paul Sanchez as Doc
- Dale Dye as Captain Harris
- Peter Hicks as Parker
- Basile Achara as Flash
- Steve Barredo as Fu Sheng
- Chris Castillejo as Rodriguez
- Andrew B. Clark as Tubbs
- Bernardo Manalili as Village Chief
- Than Rogers as Village Chief's Wife
- Li Thi Van as Village Chief's Daughter
- Clarisa Ortacio as Old Woman
- Romy Sevilla as One-Legged Man
- Mathew Westfall as Terrified Soldier
- Nick Nicholson as Mechanized Soldier #1
- Warren McLean as Mechanized Soldier #2
- Li Mai Thao as Rape Victim
- Ron Barracks as Medic
- H. Gordon Boos as Soldier with Mohawk Haircut
- Mark Ebenhoch as Ebenhoch
- Robert 'Rock' Galotti as Huffmeister
- Eric Hahn as Soldier
- Oliver Stone as Alpha Company Major in Bunker
- Henry Strzalkowski as Bit Part
Production[]
Platoon was filmed on the island of Luzon in the Philippines, starting in February 1986. The production of the film on a scheduled date was almost canceled because of the political upheaval in the country due to then-dictator Ferdinand Marcos, but with the help of well-known Asian producer Mark Hill, the shoot went on as scheduled. The shoot lasted 54 days and cost $6.5 million. The production made a deal with the Philippine military for the use of military equipment.
James Woods, who had starred in Stone's previous film, Salvador, was offered a part in Platoon. He turned the role down, later saying he "couldn't face going into another jungle with Stone".[1]
References[]
- ↑ Salewicz, Chris (1999-07-22) [1997]. Oliver Stone: The Making of His Movies (New Ed edition ed.). UK: Orion Publishing Group. ISBN 0-7528-1820-1.