5. Natural Born Killers (1994)
Natural Born Killers is a 1994 American satirical black comedy crime film directed by Oliver Stone and starring Woody Harrelson, Juliette Lewis, Robert Downey Jr and Tommy Lee Jones. The film follows two victims of traumatic childhoods who became lovers and mass murderers and is heavily glorified by the mass media. It was based by the original screenplay written by Quentin Tarantino.
Natural Born Killers is an articulate satire on human society, media, politics and the most inner desire of a man to destroy. It is the kind of film, which one will either love it or hate it. As the name already suggests, Natural Born Killers is a disturbing flick that is brutal and violent. Woody Harrelson is amazing in the film and is well accompanied by Juliette Lewis. It has withstood the test of time and seem even more relevant now than ever.
4. Nixon (1995)
Nixon is a 1995 American biographical political drama film directed by Oliver Stone, produced by Clayton Townsend, Stone and by Andrew G. Vajna. The film tells the story of the political and personal life of Former U.S President Richard Nixon. It stars Anthony Hopkins as the titular character as well as Joan Allen, Annabeth Gish and Marley Shelton. It was nominated for four Academy awards.
President Nixon is one of the most interesting political figure of the 20th century, and Stone in the film manages to bring to life a compelling yet unbiased portrayal of Nixon. The film provides a fascinating summary of his life, and of what added up to make him the troubled and lonely figure he really was. Hopkins in the lead shines with this insecure and paranoid performance that greatly embodies Nixon.
3. JFK (1991)
JFK is a 1991 American conspiracy-thriller film directed and co-written by Oliver Stone. It examines the events leading to the assassination of John F. Kennedy and follows attorney Jim Garrison sets out to uncover the mystery behind the assassination. Upon its release, many major American newspapers accused Stone of taking liberties with historical facts. The film however went on to be nominated for 8 Oscars including Best Picture.
Don’t be put off because of the length of the film which stands at a staggering 3h 08 mins. Stone creates a film that is filled with eye-opening information and logic, that it will pin you to your seat. It is a meticulously created work that deconstructs the assassination of JFK and manages to turn it into a riveting mystery thriller. The John Williams score helps to build the atmosphere of intrigue and confusion.
2. Born on the Fourth of July (1989)
Born on the Fourth of July is a 1989 American biographical war drama film based on the best-selling autobiography of the same name by Vietnam War veteran Ron Kovic. Tom Cruise in the lead plays Kovic a patriotic, young man who joins the Marine Corps. After an accident leaves him paralysed, his views on war and life begin to change. The film was nominated for a total of 8 oscars, including a first nomination for Tom Cruise.
Born of the Fourth of July is an absorbing piece of film with a wide range of emotions. It explores the effect the Vietnam War had on America and its values. Cruise is the ideal actor for the role and he anchors the film with simplicity and strength. The soundtracks in the film will remain in your head and so will the thought-provoking message and visuals that the film delivers.
1. Plantoon (1986)
Platoon is an ‘anti war film’ directed by the master of all things ‘Vietnam war’ Mr. Oliver Stone. A part of his ‘Vietnam War Trilogy’, Platoon is the first film which sequels include ‘Born on the Fourth of July’ and Heaven & Earth. I feel Platoon is by far the best film in the series. Of course Oliver Stone is an expert in the Vietnam war, hell the screenplay is based on his experience an US infantryman in Vietnam.
One of the reasons Platoon works so well is because of its ground level view on war. Oliver Stone’s experience in the war as well as the amazing performances from Charlie Sheen and Willem Dafoe keeps the film feeling so real and authentic. The closest that any anti-war film has ever achieved, the film focus on the misguided and brainwashed American adventure to the jungles of Vietnam. It is a piece that showcases infantry life and delves in to character study, with conflicts and duality that the characters struggle to keep up with.
In one of the scenes, Charlie Sheens character in the film encounters a handicapped Vietnamese man in a village they have raided. Sheen is expressive and loud, but you could clearly see the frustrations and vulnerability inside of him. And that Is what Platoon is all about, the inconsistencies of a human mind.
Read More: Charlie Sheen Movies
