Oliver Stone drew from his own experiences as an infantryman in Vietnam to craft an unflinching portrayal of the war that feels sweaty, uncomfortable, and authentic. Platoon (1986) follows a young soldier played by Charlie Sheen, with Willem Dafoe and Tom Berenger in supporting roles (also a very young Johnny Depp), as the film immerses viewers in the chaos of combat. Stone pulls no punches in showing the conflict in a starkly negative light, which explains why the US government refused to cooperate with the production. This episode is especially fun because we disagree on almost every major aspect of the film, from the cinematography to the performances, the characters, and its standout sequences. There is plenty to unpack in this very famous war movie, so prepare yourself for some hot takes.

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