at Crackle
The leader of a small platoon (Sean Penn) kidnaps an innocent Vietnamese girl (he plans to use her as a prostitute), over the objections of one of the soldiers (Michael J. Fox). I have never been able to figure out why this movie has never gotten much attention. It is based on an incident that (allegedly) took place during the Vietnam conflict, and was later reported by "The New Yorker". I have no idea how accurate the film is (I'm sure the film takes more than a few liberties with the facts), but the truth is that this movie is an emotional powerhouse. The film is not perfect (for example, Fox's role is too good to be true), but this is a De Palma movie, so people familiar with his work know that De Palma's movies are known for an incredible sense of style, not for a strong narrative. From a technical standpoint, this is a brilliant example of the director's amazing command of the film medium. I think De Palma is one of the great American directors, and many of his films (Sisters, Blow Out, etc.) are in desperate need of reevaluation (yes, I'm a fan boy!). This is not one of his masterpieces, but it is something he should be proud of. The film has a very anti-war message, but the content should not distract from the skillful way in which this movie is presented. Stephen H. Burum's camera work is great, and Ennio Morricone's music score is magnificent. A little too graphic, but an absorbing, rewarding movie experience.
You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.
