PLATOON

"Oh my God, it's Elias"

Volunteering for a year long tour in Vietnam Pvt. Chris Taylor (Sheen) soon realises the war is nothing like he ever thought it would be. With new grunts seen as fresh meat for the grinder, Chris finds it hard to fit in with his new platoon. Tension gets even worse when they are assigned investigate VC insurgence in a village and the two rival sergeants Elias Grodin (Dafoe) and Bob Barnes (Berenger) comes to blows over Barnes' method of extracting information. As the platoon becomes divided, Chris realises that the VC might not be the only enemy in the jungle.

When it comes to naming defining movies about the conflict in Vietnam, there are three films that will make everyone's selection and one of those is 'Platoon'.

Oliver Stone's groundbreaking movie took you into the heart of darkness, showing you the Vietnam War from the prospective a lowly grunt thrust into a war weary platoon. This was a time when the fresh meat for the grinder was plenty and the rookie wasn't expected to last past the first few patrols. What made 'Platoon' different from many films that had come before is that it depicted a conflict that the American forces were losing.

Even in the late 1960s, the troops on the ground knew that they were fighting a losing battle. This was causing moral to drop and fighting within the platoons. Oliver Stone's semi-autobiographical account of a cherry in country for the first time, add controversy by showing the US troops abusing prisoners and killing each other. This was a no hold's barred look and one that had not been done since 'Apocalypse Now'. This is also the film that brought Stone to the forefront and launched his directorial career.

It was the reality of the piece that made 'Platoon' such a standout film in the Vietnam movie genre. Told from Chris's prospective, the rookie soldier narrates the story as he is writing letters home to his grandmother. This narrative drives the movie along and gives you an insight to the characters thoughts on war and how the events happening around him are affecting his state of mind. It is the excellent cast that makes 'Platoon' such a classic. Leading the line is the performance of Charlie Sheen as Chris. This was a time when the actor was going through a career-defining period that he would never quite capture again. With outstanding performances in 'Wall Street', 'Young Guns' and 'Eight Men Out', this was a time that Sheen was a dramatic actor and not the comedic one we know today. As Chris, he creates a patriotic character, who actually volunteered who realises that the war might not be the what he expected. Joining him is an outstanding ensemble cast that brings the platoon and its conflicts to life. Leading the line are the two sergeants played by Tom Berenger and Willem Dafoe. Berenger's SSgt. Bob Barnes is a truly repulsive character that commands loyalty from troops without question, whatever he does. This is a role that the actor revels in and he creates a character that is easy to hate. It is Willem Defoe whose career has been defined by playing villains and bad guys but you have to remember he is a talented actor who can shine in any role. As Sgt. Elias Grodin he is a character that you expect the US soldier to be like as he is in essence a good man. He is a hippy soldier whose principles will bring him into conflict with Barnes. This is one of Dafoe's highlights in a brilliant career.

The rest of the cast are also first rate with standout performances from John C. McGinley as Sgt. Red O'Neill, Keith David as King, Forest Whitaker as Big Harold, Kevin Dillon as Bunny and a very young Johnny Depp as Pvt. Gator Lerner.

'Platoon' is not only one of the best Vietnam films ever made but also one of the best war movies in the genre. With a compelling and realistic storyline and brilliantly realised characters, this is a genre-defining movie that still sets a standard for all war movies to follow.