Platoon

Winner of the 1987 Academy Award for Best Picture, Platoon is one of Oliver Stone’s best written and directed films.

The Story

Platoon follows the journey of Chris Taylor, a white middle class idealistic American who decides to join the Army and fight in Vietnam. As the story begins, it’s apparent that Chris is very green. When he sees the enemy for the first time, he freezes and does not alert the platoon that the enemy is upon them. The result is the death of another newbie soldier.

As the movie unfolds, Chris discovers that the platoon is split into two squads. One group follows Sgt. Barnes while the others adhere to Sgt. Elias. The group that follows Sgt. Barnes resembles hard drinking militaristic patriots while the crowd that trails Sgt. Elias is marijuana smoking multicultural free spirits. Initially, Chris follows Sgt. Barnes and then realizes that he relates more to the Sgt. Elias clan.

Even though the groups are different, they manage to coalesce for the common cause. However, after the platoon discovers the brutal murder of one of its members, Sgt. Barnes leads the platoon in the senseless destruction of a Vietnamese village. And, just as he is about to execute the elder of the village, Sgt. Elias stops him since he believes Barnes is acting immorally. The internal strife that was brewing inside the platoon then erupts into a civil war. Each soldier must now choose sides.

With the animosity running deep between the two sergeants, Barnes assassinates Elias. Chris, realizing that Sgt. Elias was killed by Sgt. Barnes, wants to seek vengeance. As the movie climaxes, the platoon experiences its most intense fight of its campaign. During this fight, Chris finds the bravery and strength to become a great soldier. Yet, as the fight ends, Chris still wants revenge and he kills Sgt. Barnes.

The Meaning

Almost twenty five years after its release, Platoon is even more relevant today than it was in 1986. Platoon is about the cultural war that began in the nineteen sixties which is currently playing out all across America.

Even though it is very obvious that Oliver Stone relates to and empathizes with the cultural left viewpoint portrayed by the Sgt. Elias character, he does an excellent job of accurately demonstrating the Red and Blue state mentality that currently defines the U.S. cultural war. With an idealistic belief in progressive attitudes toward racial equality and multiculturalism, the Blue state thought process mirrors the attitudes of Sgt. Elias. Wanting to revert back to time when America dominated the world with militaristic patriotism, suits the Red State mindset portrayed by Sgt. Barnes.

Since the Vietnam War was a civil war between North and South Vietnam, it is a perfect backdrop to tell the story of a divided nation fighting its own cultural war.