Platoon with Keanu Reeves

A film based upon Oliver Stone's experiences as an infantryman during the Vietnam war. The film was written partially to debunk the message put forth in the film The Green Berets. 

Shot in the Philippines, under similar conditions Coppola would experience during the filming of Apocalypse Now!, Platoon has become a classic film. It won The Best Picture and Director Academy Awards in 1986 and helped to launch the careers of Willem Dafoe and Charlie Sheen, among others. Not to mention, it has some of the best quotations which explain what it's like to teach middle school. 

Sometimes, I feel like a dude born of these two fathers

The Set-Up

Oliver Stone had already won an academy award for writing the film Midnight Express. He also wrote the screenplays for the films Conan the Barbarian and Scarface. He had won acclaim writing and directing the film Salvador, but still had trouble getting the financing for Platoon. Originally, he had wanted Charlie Sheen's older brother, Emilio Estevez for the part of Chris, but by the time he got financing in place, Estevez was too old.

The Execution

Platoon not only has the distinction of being one of the best Vietnam films of all time, but one could argue it is one of the best films. For most of my teaching career, I would use this film to make analogies to what the teaching experience was like. The film also launched the careers of a slew of notable actors.

           
             I'm always reminded of this scene when I think of my teaching career.

What might have been

Reeves, just at the beginning of his career, follows a completely different path that sees him going for darker and more serious roles early own. Whether he ultimately becomes John Wick remains to be seen. He still makes River's Edge but avoids The Bill and Ted franchise entirely. Instead, the following film gets made:

                         
                             "Come on, B-uddy." "For the last time, IT'S BILL!"

Who knows what might have been. Certainly, Sheen did a terrific job in the role of Private Chris Taylor. Had Reeves been cast though, this might have been the version of The Matrix which was released instead.

                                          Somewhere, in West Philadelphia