Geboren am 4. Juli (1989)

Geboren am 4. Juli: Directed by Oliver Stone. With Tom Cruise, Bryan Larkin, Raymond J. Barry, Caroline Kava. The biography of Ron Kovic. Paralyzed in the Vietnam war, he becomes an anti-war and pro-human rights political activist after feeling betrayed by the country he fought for.

“Youu0026#39;ve heard the express u0026quot;canu0026#39;t see the forest for the treesu0026quot;, right? It refers to someone who gets so caught up in details, they miss the big picture. Reading other comments on IMDb regarding u0026quot;Born on the Fourth of Julyu0026quot;, I think people have the opposite problem with this film. So many people seem to get caught up in talking about Vietnam, war, Nixon, America, Communism, and hippies, that they totally overlook Ron Kovic. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003enRon Kovic is the center of this film. In u0026quot;Platoonu0026quot;, war was the center, and the central character (Charlie Sheenu0026#39;s Chris Taylor) was merely a POV character through whose eyes we could see war. Not so in u0026quot;Born on the Fourth of Julyu0026quot;. Vietnam is the setting, the context, and the backdrop. But Ron Kovic is the story. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eOliver Stone really understands a character arc. Look at Kovicu0026#39;s life, where it starts, where it ends. The film is the journey, how he got from A to B. It is a dramatization of a life, as opposed to an actual life, but it still rings true. It feels true. It reaches an artistic level of truth, even if some literal truths are overlooked, distorted, or rearranged. Thatu0026#39;s what Stone is trying to do. People who quibble about the facts miss the point. (This is a theme I will take up again when I review some of Stoneu0026#39;s other films, as Stone is constantly being bashed for historical inaccuracies.) The connections from one point to the next work admirably, and the progression is completely believable, which is quite a feat for such a dramatic change of attitude (compare to u0026quot;American History Xu0026quot;, where the main character goes through a similar about face with scant motivation). u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003enAnyway, what impresses me about this film is the honesty and respect with which Stone presents the opposing views of the film. Say what you want about Stoneu0026#39;s political beliefs, but the argument in this film is presented in a very neutral light. Itu0026#39;s a story about Kovicu0026#39;s choices, Kovicu0026#39;s politics, Kovicu0026#39;s judgments. And the anti-Vietnam beliefs he finally supports in the final act are a very natural and believable outcome of the story. This film isnu0026#39;t anywhere near as didactic as some people like to imagine. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe tragedy of Oliver Stone is that, because he has been so edgy, so controversial, so deliberately provocative, no one can really just sit down and, with a neutral eye, watch his films. They have become so burdened by this giant, irrelevant, political squabble. The films have been subsumed by the very issues they sought to raise. And itu0026#39;s a shame, with this film especially, because it is excellent. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eTom Cruise gives possibly the greatest performance of his career (I canu0026#39;t think of anything that tops it, though his performance in u0026quot;Eyes Wide Shutu0026quot;, for very different reasons, is just as remarkable). The script is fantastic, taking time where it needs to take time, but not overly deliberate in its approach. Itu0026#39;s very economical with time. It knows what each scene needs to say, and says it without any excess baggage, wasted space, or dead time. The direction is excellent, as is the editing and cinematography. The supporting cast is excellent. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eBut this movie would be nothing without the remarkable, heart-rending, true story of Ron Kovic. So, while we admire the technical achievement of the film, while we debate the points raised, while we enshrine or excoriate the director (as the case may be), letu0026#39;s not forget the story. Letu0026#39;s not get so fired up about Vietnam that we forget Ron Kovic. He is the heart and soul of this film. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eOne final note: I bristle when people call this an anti-war film. That really diminishes it, I think. Itu0026#39;s so much more than that. Itu0026#39;s not just saying that war is brutal, nasty, and horrific. Itu0026#39;s saying something far more specific about a specific war, and about the effect of that war on a specific man.”