Born on the Fourth of July
US (1989): Drama/War/Biography
The second film in Oliver Stone's Vietnam trilogy moves from the brutality of war in Platoon to its equally traumatic aftermath. Based on the memoir of combat veteran Ron Kovic, the film stars Tom Cruise as Kovic, whose gunshot wound in Vietnam left him paralyzed from the chest down. He is deeply embittered by neglect in a veteran's hospital and by the shattering of his patriotic idealism because of the horror and futility of the Vietnam conflict. While painfully and awkwardly adjusting to his disability and a changing definition of masculinity, Kovic joins the burgeoning movement of antiwar protest, culminating in a climactic appearance at the 1976 Democratic national convention. A powerfully intimate portrait that unfolds on an epic scale. (Amazon.com)
8 nominations, 2 Awards
· Best Achievement in Directing 1989: Oliver Stone
· Best Achievement in Film Editing 1989: David Brenner, Joe Hutshing
· Best Picture of the Year 1989: A. Kitman Ho & Oliver Stone - Producers (Universal)
· Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role 1989: Tom Cruise
· Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium 1989: Oliver Stone, Ron Kovic
· Achievement in Cinematography 1989: Robert Richardson
· Achievement in Music (Original Score) 1989: John Williams
· Achievement in Sound 1989: Michael Minkler, Gregory H. Watkins, Wylie Stateman, Tod A. Maitland