Review of Born on the Fourth of July (1989) by Jay L — 27 Aug 2011

"There was another war waiting for the soldiers when they returned home.".

A towering And harrowing Vietnam War masterpiece from Director Oliver Stone (Platoon, JFK, Heaven & Earth). Born On The Fourth Of July is an intensely hard-hitting and truly emotional tribute to the life of Ron Kovic and his stint in the Marine Corps and The Vietnam War. It's an absolutely dazzling knockout of searing and thunderous proportions, a film that hits you hard and stays with you long after the ending credits roll by. A one-two punch of intensely frightening and disturbing battle sequences and very saddening, heartfelt wartime drama that doesn't stop for the entire duration. Stone does not shy away from the brutal nature of the war, his unflinching detail and truly realistic direction gives this film a very disturbing and realistic feel, this makes for a astoundingly gripping movie-going experience. Born On The Fourth Of July is Oliver Stone's elite Vietnam War film, it's superior to both "Platoon" and "Heaven And Earth". The film itself was nominated for a Best Picture Academy Award, Oliver Stone won an Academy Award for Best Director and Tom Cruise was also nominated for a Best Actor Academy Award. This movie was a critically acclaimed masterwork, it's undoubtedly very controversial and has stood the test of time wonderfully. A hynotizing journey through the tumultuous life of Vietnam veteran Ron Kovic, a vivid, touching, ingenious, stunning, dramatic, colorful, disturbing and gut-wrenching look at the troubled life of an amazing person. A work of sheer genius from everyone involved, everything from the set design and cinematography to the acting and the sheer emotion and realism is top-notch. A flawless film that stands tall among some of the best war films ever made. Another gem from Oliver Stone and company. A must-see movie that radiates with brilliance throughout.

The cast is elite and the acting is astonishing, excellent performances from everyone involved. Tom Cruise gives the performance of his career as Ron Kovic. A career-defining role that put him on the cinematic map, a performance that shines with pure talent, pure brilliance from Cruise that's just a blast to watch. Cruise carries this film on his back and just nails it. The supporting cast is immensely talented as well, with great performances from Raymond Berry, Caroline Kava, Willem Dafoe, Kyra Sedgewick and an appearance from Tom Sizemore. All-around genius, a film that is immensely powerful no matter how you look at it.