After a period of interesting depictions of war in the form of ’60s adventure/Cold War epics (Dr. Strangelove, When Eagles Dare, The Dirty Dozen) and gritty ’70s filmmaking (The Deer Hunter, Apocalypse Now), the ’80s saw a blending of the two styles to form some of the most seminal classics of the genre. The films of this era are characterized for their philosophical explorations on the meaning of war and its consequences in the grand spectrum of the human condition. These films would go on to pave the way for ’90s war films like Saving Private Ryan and The Thin Red Line. Here is a list of the very best:
7 Born on the Fourth of July (1989)
Universal Pictures Distributions
Oliver Stone ended the ’80s with another Vietnam War movie starring Tom Cruise, in what many considered to be his very best film role. Stone’s focus was more on the aftermath of the war on the individuals who participated in it, using the story of Ron Kovic as the canvas. After being left a paraplegic due to a war injury, Kovic returns to a world full of anger and animosity. His troublesome experiences left him on the brink of despair, turning to booze and drugs as a coping mechanism. It is through the course of these moments that he finds a calling in his life through the anti-war effort. Cruise gives a gripping portrait as the torn-down Kovic, channeling his humanity and displaying a strong collection of emotions.
6 Hamburger Hill (1987)
Paramount Pictures Distributions
The film follows the story of various military divisions as they fight the Battle of Hamburger Hill, one of the most famous and brutal battles of the Vietnam War. The film is an ensemble piece depicting the acts and concerns of the many members that participated in this attack. It does a wonderful job at introducing us to our characters and setting the piece in motion. Once it reaches the titular attack, it becomes a meditative experience on the chaos of war and the people who suffer from it. It is a relentless tour de force, never letting the viewer relax and always on the brink of total collapse. The film finds its meaning through its depiction of tenacity.
5 Glory (1989)
Tri-Star Pictures Distributions
This Civil War-era epic continues to grow in reputation with every passing year. Starring a stellar cast of A-list actors at either the height (Matthew Broderick) or rise (Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman) of their careers, it presents a gripping depiction of the struggle for freedom in the face of insurmountable odds. The film is a poignant commentary on the fight for liberty, following the lives of recently freed slaves as they battle for the Union Army in the hopes of cementing their newfound freedom through victory in the conflict. It demonstrates the many complicated aspects that go about producing such a result, and the bonds the characters form along the way. Unlike previous war films depicting the era, there is a central message on how the war was necessary, albeit at the consequence of great loss.
4 Platoon (1986)
Orion Pictures Distributions
Basing the story off of his own experiences in Vietnam, Oliver Stone crafted a fascinating story of good vs. evil all seen through the prism of war. Following a star-studded ensemble including Charlie Sheen, Willem Dafoe, Tom Berenger, and Johnny Depp, it presents a Dionysian and Apollonian view of war, using the 25th Infantry Division as a backdrop for the exploration. The division is divided between two camps, those who follow Sgt. Barnes (Berenger) and those who follow Sgt. Elias (Dafeo); Barnes’s group is savage and sadistic, while Elias’ is more outgoing and passive, seeing the war more through the lenses of a waste of time. As both groups face the perils and hardships the war bestows upon them, the animosity grows to a breaking point.
Platoonis unique in the way it presents the war as a fractured endeavor with no redeeming qualities. It is there to disrupt and destroy, building nothing but pain and resentment. Director Oliver Stone captures the idea through this story between men who were thrown into the jungle with no true vision of what they were actually fighting for.
3 Full Metal Jacket (1987)
Warner Bros. Pictures Distributions
Legendary filmmaker Stanley Kubrick’s second-to-last film was a visceral and gut-wrenching experience into the essence of control and evil through the eyes of the Vietnam War. While carrying similar themes as Platoon’s, Kubrick’s style, methodical direction, and differing conclusions make it a more chimerical project. The movie is divided between one half in boot camp and another at the war itself. We follow the character of Joker and his journey across both halves, seeing how his traumatic experience during training, where he saw his closest friend go crazy.
Kubrick crafted an impeccable and methodical picture, showing us the gritty side of war through more distant lenses, as he did for most of his filmography. The result is a polished presentation in both scope and technique, presenting us with a philosophical argument about how the hardships of war are what force us to become evil, and it is an ever-present side effect permeating to the rest of society.
2 Das Boot (1981)
Columbia Pictures Distributions
The film that launched director Wolfgang Petersen’s career into the stratosphere happens to be one of the most impeccable war films ever made. Claustrophobic, poignant, and slow-burning, it follows the journey of German submarine U-96 during the middle of World War II. The story is told through the perspective of war correspondent Lieutenant Werner, who catalogs most of the journey. It also spends a considerable amount of time with the Captain Lieutenant (his name is never given). Over the course, the crew meets a series of gut-wrenching obstacles and attacks, seeing how they slowly begin to take its effects, turning the once bright and impressionable men into rugged men of war.
It makes a poignant observation on perseverance and strength of will, never glorifying or condemning the war, but demonstrating how those who experienced it found the way to survive. No discussion of the film can be completed without the mentioning of its ending, which can be described as nothing more than a very tough pill to swallow, as the men, even in the conquering of their obstacles, still find a way to lose a big part of themselves.
1 Come and See (1985)
Seagull Films Distributions
A modest hit when originally released in 1985, Come and See has gathered a massive reputation in the 21st Century. Directed by Elim Klimov, it centers its story on the journey of Flyora, a young Russian living in a village in Byelorussia right in the midst of the Nazi Germany invasion. Upon joining a band of resistance fighters, Flyora goes on a journey that is best described as a counterpart to Hell, where he sees the very worst that humanity has to offer. The film is now considered by many to be the best war film ever made, vividly showing its horrors to a degree never seen. It’s a powerful picture that stays with its viewers long after the credits roll, made even more impactful with the way it uses the camera and relates the events in dark and moody tones. The essence of the film lies in its total rejection of war as nothing more than a huge stench for mankind, bringing a level of suffering insurmountable in its destructive powers.
