Review of Born on the Fourth of July (1989) by Matt P — 08 Nov 2010
Tom Cruise plays an angry and disturbed disabled man, fresh out of Vietnam after seeing the horrors it has to offer. Some would consider this a war film, yet most of the war we see going on here is between Cruise and the people he's returned to, who now disapprove of how he sees things.
In this sense it is a typical Oliver Stone movie, nowhere near as good as Platoon, but the performance of Tom Cruise speaks for itself. The movie isn't much about the war as it is the after affects, and here we focus on how it scarred one man.
Ron Kovic goes on a journey and meets with other cripples like Willem Dafoe, and learns that because they are outcasted so much no one expects them to do anything. Therefore Cruise must act upon passion, struggling to get his message read by all those shunning for the Vietnam War.
It's a compelling message; one that I couldn't believe was standing out and received so well from Cruise. I think he made this movie what it is.
This review of Born on the Fourth of July (1989) was written by Matt P on 08 Nov 2010.
Born on the Fourth of July has generally received positive reviews.
Was this review helpful?
