Oliver Stone's 1989 film, Born on the Fourth of July (now available on Blu-ray) is based on the autobiography of Ron Kovic, a Vietnam veteran who was wounded in combat and became an outspoken political activist in the years following his return to the U.S. Kovic is portrayed by Tom Cruise, who dedicated himself fully to the role. The film is a tale of the triumph of the human spirit, as well as a social commentary on the tumultuous times following the end of the Vietnam War. Though it has been over 20 years since its release, and nearly 40 years since the fall of Saigon, the repercussions of this time period still echo throughout society today. Stone, who co-wrote the screenplay with Kovic, unflinchingly covers both the personal and the political, leaving an impact that remains to this day.
"A sinister cabal of superior writers."
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