Oscar Movies: Platoon (1986)
Oliver Stone wrote the original draft for Platoon in 1971, hoping for “The Doors” frontman Jim Morrison to star.
By the time the movie was made, the role was played by the young Charlie Sheen.
Stone’s Oscar winning war movie depicts the barbaric nature of the conflict and its mental effect on the American soldiers in unsettling, disturbing style.
One death scene is visually and symbolically iconic. Sergeant Elias (Willem Dafoe), one of few good men in the battalion, defending Taylor (Charlie Sheen) when he’s bullied, is clobbering Sergeant Barnes for his immoral approach to the Vietnamese. As their rivalry escalates, Barnes secretly guns him down in cold blood before walking away.
A sole, lonely figure running into the clearing, flanked by countless Vietcong soldiers. In a scene that tragically echoes a legendary military photo, and to the score of Adagio for Strings, Elias falls.
The iconic movie poster and final scene featuring Elias is based on wartime photo taken by Art Greenspon.
Stone became the first Vietnam vet to direct a major picture about the Vietnam War.
My Oscar Book:
Orion (Hemdale production)
Nominations: 8
Picture: produced by Arnold Kopelson
Director: Oliver Stone
Screenplay (Original): Oliver Stone
Supporting Actor: Willem Dafoe
Supporting Actor: Tom Berenger
Cinematography: Robert Richardson
Sound: John “Doc” Wilkinson, Rihard Rogers, Charles “Bud” Grenzbach
Editing: Claire Simpson
Awards: 4
Picture
Director
Sound
Editing
