Oliver Stone's semi-autobiographical war epic Platoon, regarded by critics and viewers as one of the greatest films ever made, airs on BBC Two tonight at 10pm. The 1986 film, written and directed by Stone—a Vietnam War veteran—offers a harrowing and visceral look at the conflict, praised for its authenticity and realism.
A Film Born from Personal Experience
Stone's screenplay draws on his own service as a United States infantryman in South Vietnam in 1967 and 1968. The film was intended to counter the glorified vision of war depicted in John Wayne's The Green Berets, and it became the first Hollywood film written and directed by an actual Vietnam War veteran.
Platoon stars Charlie Sheen as Chris Taylor, with a supporting cast including Willem Dafoe, Tom Berenger, Johnny Depp, Kevin Dillon, Forest Whitaker, Francesco Quinn, John C. McGinley, Richard Edson, Keith David, Reggie Johnson, Mark Moses, Chris Pedersen, and Tony Todd.
Stone on Casting Charlie Sheen
Speaking to Variety on the film's 40th anniversary, Stone explained how Sheen landed the lead role. He said: “Initially, we set up the movie in 1984, and Charlie's brother Emilio Estevez was going to play the main role. But it fell apart. And when it came back around in 1986, Emilio was older. He no longer had quite the look. Charlie was 19 or 20, and he has a lot of the same mannerisms as Emilio. And I liked him a lot. He hadn't done much work. But he had a naïve quality, like I had when I was back in Vietnam.”
Critical and Audience Praise
The film holds a 93% audience approval score on Rotten Tomatoes. One fan called it “a harrowing yet somewhat beautiful film that everyone should see,” praising its cinematography and acting, while another described it as “probably the most realistic insight, and detailed, graphic experience of the Vietnam war in cinema history.” Critics have echoed this, with one noting it “captures the horror and glory of war ... like only a bare handful of movies ever has,” and another saying, “War has never looked closer on the screen, or more sickeningly real.”
Platoon airs on BBC Two tonight, September 27, at 10pm.
