Verdict:
This is the most tangible movie I have ever laid my eyes on. I could almost smell the crap from the latrines and the sweat-soaked clothes on the soldiers.
It is also one of the tensest movies. There are many quiet moments, when people are just waiting or walking around, and those moments are no less tense than the action-filled ones.
It is hard to talk about the story as there isn’t really one. The movie is generally about soldiers in the Vietnam war, as they change, interact and clash over the course of their time in the Vietnam.
In terms of action, Platoon captures the intensity and chaos of battle but action is not really what this movie is about.
As the movie is very much character driven, there is a whole star cast present. Willem Dafoe and Tom Berenger are the two strongest roles. Some of the acting can be a little cheesy, but this was probably Tom’s best role ever. He is having to present a complex character – a person who both cares about his men but is also a disillusioned psycho murderer.
Despite some complexity being present, the material and the treatment of characters aren’t particularly subtle. Berenger’s villain quickly becomes just an intimidating war criminal. While the Vietnam War was ultimately not a popular decision, there was and still is a discussion to be had about the juxtaposed points of view about the US troops in Vietnam. On the one hand, you have young men who were sent to war by their government, tried to do good but were pushed to their limits while fighting an invisible enemy and just trying to protect their comrades. On the other hand, you have foreign troops, hated by many locals, committing atrocities against civilians in a place where they have no business being in the first place. The movie is not intent on having this delicate discussion, instead clearly picking a side, and you already know which side.
This isn’t necessarily a problem. The only real problem I have is with the main protagonist, Charlie Sheen. His acting and his narration feel forced. I am not surprised that he would later start playing in comedy spoofs of action movies because that is how a lot of his acting felt like in this one. I expected him to lose it and suddenly make a funny face at the camera. Still, for its excellent performances and atmosphere, Platoon is one of the best war movies of all time.