Born On The Fourth Of July - Review

At the time I am writing this review, I have not see Magnolia or Eyes Wide Shut. The reason I bring that up is because this might be the best acting I've ever seen from Tom Cruise. Now if you know me at all. Tom Cruise is one of my favourite actors, but even I can admit that he doesn't have the most range. His typical roles don't vary as much as some of my other favourite actors like Denzel Washington or Tom Hanks. Name 5 iconic Tom Cruise roles and they aren't THAT different to one other. However, I believe that since Tom Cruise is a role itself now, that just makes this performance better.

Starting off, Tom Cruise's Ron Kovic is a young, good looking, patriotic American teenager inspired by the US Marine Corps and eager to join the fight against Communism in Vietnam. The Tom Cruise we know (especially back then) definitely fits that mold. However, after his injury in Vietnam and he is treated in the military hospitals, you slowly start to see that wide-eyed young american boy persona start to decay and Tom Cruise completely transforms. Now I have said many times that in almost every Tom Cruise movie, you immediately see Tom Cruise acting and not character on screen, but since he brings so much conviction to every role he plays, you are won over by him very quickly. Here, he transforms into someone unrecognizable. Sure, he is in a wheelchair and his appearance is not your typical Tom Cruise look, but there were moments in this movie where he just broke down emotionally and I started to shed a tear. I thought to myself, "holy shit, Tom Cruise is an actor! Not a movie star, an actor!' Impressive work Tom.

Speaking about transformation, that is the main theme and focus of the movie. As the movie starts, you hear the John Williams score, see the small American town with the patriotic parades littered with American flags and it feels like something you would watch before entering the Hall of Presidents in Walt Disney World. It's a very whimsical atmosphere and the general consensus is that going to fight for freedom in Vietnam is the not only the right thing to do, but the American thing to do. When watching this, I was thinking to myself, "Okay, this is really cheesy and extremely whimsical. However, I feel like Vietnam is not going to be so nice." Oliver Stone purposefully did this to juxtapose it with the brutality of war in Vietnam. Sure, there isn't much mayhem in terms of bullets flying in each direction like Saving Private Ryan or Hacksaw Ridge, but it's the certain moments Oliver Stone chooses to use that really pack a punch. Now I won't spoil what exactly you see on screen, but trust me when I say they don't hold back. If life back in American was heaven, life in war in Vietnam is hell.

Speaking of hell, life in the hospital for wounded soldiers portrayed in this movie is absolutely disgusting. I mean, I would assume that zoo animals are treated better than this. Patients would be drowning in their own vommit, and urine for days and the doctors wouldn't even care. And for what? To come back to America with no use of your legs and you get treated differently by your friends, family, significant others and just the public in general.

This movie really showcases the change of not only Ron Kovic as a character, but the country of America as a whole. A country that not too long ago defeated the Nazis and was oozing with Patriotism had transformed into a country with a huge divide between the government and a large portion of the people. It's funny how a film that was released in 1989 can still have relevance to the world today.