Platoon

Platoon (1986)

Runtime: 120 minutes

Directed by: Oliver Stone

Starring: Charlie Sheen, Willem Dafoe, Tom Berenger, Kevin Dillon, Forest Whitaker

From: Orion

 
RIP Tony Todd

This was not the original choice for the movie to watch last night. However, on Twitter minutes before I was going to press “play”, I saw the shocking news; he wasn’t even 70 years old. I’ve already viewed Candyman (both versions) The Crow and the Night of the Living Dead remake; the Final Destination pictures aren’t appealing to me at all and an even more surprising admission is that Platoon was a first-time-watch. This is despite the cast and all the accolades it has received, not to mention my fandom of other “war is hell” films like Full Metal Jacket. The role of Warren he had here was not a standout part but the few films I’ve seen him in, I always enjoyed seeing Todd act even in something atrocious like Hatchet III.

Given his placement in the opening credits, I figured Todd’s role would be small. But that’s OK; I’m glad I finally had a reason to see Platoon. Charlie Sheen just arrived in Vietnam and already he’s regretting the decision as life in the platoon is full of misery. Voice-over is heard in letters he writes to his grandma. Sure, in the evenings there are parties involving pot and alcohol but out in the jungle, soldiers can get maimed and killed in gruesome ways, which the camera doesn’t shy away from. Of course, the Vietnamese get mauled themselves, regardless if they’re soldiers.

With a large cast (some famous at the time and others like Todd would become famous years later) the focus is not just on Sheen’s Chris Taylor, based in part on director/writer Oliver Stone’s own experience in ‘Nam. There were plenty of interesting characters who all had different opinions of their experiences in the war. Taylor’s expected change the longer he remains in that pressure cooker environment in the sweltering jungle was not a tired cliché as it was always compelling & many aspects are high quality: the cast, the acting, the sound, the editing, the combat scenes, and the ultimate theme of the true biggest enemy the troops faced: not the North Vietnamese but rather themselves.

An adult, unflinching look at the horrors of combat won’t be for everyone, between the gruesome maiming, the constant vulgarities (some were at least rather colorful so I didn’t mind them), macho behavior and aggro dudes screaming at each other. Yet, those that can watch such a movie should find this rather rewarding.

While not a meaty role for Tony Todd, at least I have seen some of his biggest acting achievements. As he appeared in many movies-albeit more than a few were B-movie crap-and TV shows-including playing Worf’s brother in the Star Trek universe-so many are crestfallen by the news that he passed away.