Born on the Fourth of July
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Paralyzed in the Vietnam war, Ron Kovic becomes an anti-war and pro-human rights political activist after feeling betrayed by the country he fought for.
What critics thought
Generally well-received on release, the film earned particular admiration for Tom Cruise's performance and Oliver Stone's visceral, gut-punch direction — though a vocal minority of critics found Stone's approach hectoring and self-important rather than genuinely moving. The film also drew political fire for its dramatization of real events, making it Stone's first publicly controversial work.
“a relentless but often powerful and heartbreaking piece of work, dominated by Tom Cruise's impassioned performance”
David Denby·New York magazine
“its contrasting of the glorious illusion of war as seen from thousands of miles away to the barbarity of it up-close”
James Berardinelli·Reelviews Movie Reviews
“2 1/2 hours of self-righteousness masquerading as art”
Owen Gleiberman·Entertainment Weekly
“It's almost inconceivable that Ron Kovic was as innocent as the movie and the 1976 autobiography on which it's based make him out to be ... Kovic's book is simple and explicit; he states his case in plain, angry words. Stone's movie yells at you for two hours and twenty-five minutes.”
Pauline Kael·The New Yorker
Accolades
Parents guide
- Violence
- severe
- Sex
- severe
- Profanity
- severe
- Substances
- moderate
- Intensity
- severe
Genres
Drama, War
Cast & Crew
Oliver StoneDirector
Tom CruiseRon Kovic
Raymond J. BarryMr. Kovic
Caroline KavaMrs. Kovic
Kyra SedgwickDonna
Willem DafoeCharlie
Jerry LevineSteve Boyer
Stephen BaldwinBilly Vorsovich
Josh EvansTommy Kovic
Rob CamillettiTommy Finnelli
Vivica A. FoxHooker
Lili TaylorJamie Wilson
Tony FrankMr. Wilson
John WilliamsComposer
Ron KovicWriter
Robert RichardsonCinematographyBorn on the Fourth of July
Paralyzed in the Vietnam war, Ron Kovic becomes an anti-war and pro-human rights political activist after feeling betrayed by the country he fought for.
What critics thought
Generally well-received on release, the film earned particular admiration for Tom Cruise's performance and Oliver Stone's visceral, gut-punch direction — though a vocal minority of critics found Stone's approach hectoring and self-important rather than genuinely moving. The film also drew political fire for its dramatization of real events, making it Stone's first publicly controversial work.
“a relentless but often powerful and heartbreaking piece of work, dominated by Tom Cruise's impassioned performance”
David Denby·New York magazine
“its contrasting of the glorious illusion of war as seen from thousands of miles away to the barbarity of it up-close”
James Berardinelli·Reelviews Movie Reviews
“2 1/2 hours of self-righteousness masquerading as art”
Owen Gleiberman·Entertainment Weekly
“It's almost inconceivable that Ron Kovic was as innocent as the movie and the 1976 autobiography on which it's based make him out to be ... Kovic's book is simple and explicit; he states his case in plain, angry words. Stone's movie yells at you for two hours and twenty-five minutes.”
Pauline Kael·The New Yorker
Accolades
Parents guide
- Violence
- severe
- Sex
- severe
- Profanity
- severe
- Substances
- moderate
- Intensity
- severe
Genres
Drama, War
Cast & Crew
Oliver StoneDirectorTom CruiseRon KovicRaymond J. BarryMr. KovicCaroline KavaMrs. KovicKyra SedgwickDonnaWillem DafoeCharlieJerry LevineSteve BoyerStephen BaldwinBilly VorsovichJosh EvansTommy KovicRob CamillettiTommy FinnelliVivica A. FoxHookerLili TaylorJamie WilsonTony FrankMr. WilsonJohn WilliamsComposerRon KovicWriterRobert RichardsonCinematographyStream
Rent & Buy