Review of Born on the Fourth of July (1989) by Charles B — 12 Jul 2014

Tom Cruise did an amazing emotional job, probably my favorite role of his. What an incredible story about a real Vietnam Veteran, Ron Kovic, who turned anti-war activist. This story really got to the heart of a character and was overwhelming at times with unrelenting honesty about being paralyzed.

It really gets to me how people especially at the time of the Vietnam War shot the messenger (the troops), that is despicable. Also, the treatment of vets in the veteran hospitals pissed me off so much, very eye-opening.

From my past, working around disabled people nothing disgusts me more than how some people don't view disabled people as humans and are so fucking lazy with their care. So, that really touched a nerve with me.

I liked the score and especially the later part of the movie when Kovic returns home and everything is different. William Dafoe comes in at the end adding his usual charismatic crazy character.Touches on so many themes and problems veterans have to deal with and Americans changing perspective of the Vietnam war.

Awesome movie with great background information on Vietnam Vets, very touching.