5/10/2014

Born on the Fourth of July (1989) or, Beautiful Struggle



Tom Cruise in one of his career's best parts, as Ron Kovic in Oliver Stone's Born on the Fourth of July

QUICK REVIEW:

Ron Kovic's story about blind faith in his Marine Corps, through murder and massacre and paralysis in the Vietnam war, - to a new identity as anti-war protest-leader, - hits its audience right in the pelvis.
The storytelling and visual style is highly American, as writer-director Oliver Stone, - who won his third Oscar for his direction, - leads us with the lead character from home to overseas, to home again, - with a new recognition. The historical account is magnificent, and Stone mixes grand emotions and music (by John Williams (E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982))) with great talent.

Tom Cruise and Willem Dafoe as two opposing, handicapped war-veterans in Oliver Stone's Born on the Fourth of July

Tom Cruise (Top Gun (1986)) is simply phenomenal, - and was Oscar-nominated for his work, - as Ron Kovic, on whose autobiography the film is based. - Kovic even co-scripted the film with Stone.
Born on the Fourth of July is a triumph for everyone involved, a great American movie and a real classic. It is an exceptional movie of the American experience of Vietnam.


So starts an American classic; Oliver Stone's Born on the Fourth of July


Watch the film's trailer here

Budget: 14 mil. $
Box office: 161 mil. $
= Huge hit

What do you think of Born on the Fourth of July?
Do you agree that it is a true, American classic?
Is it Oliver Stone and/or Tom Cruise's best film, or if not, which are?

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