Oliver Stone’s Savages is out this week, so we’ve taken a look over this prolific filmmaker’s career and chosen 10 of his best movies for your consideration.
10) W.
Stone’s biopic of George W. Bush was released just as his presidency was coming to an end, revealing that, like many other subsequent examinations of this much-ridiculed politician, he’s probably quite a likeable bloke behind his surface stupidity and religious fundamentalism.
9) JFK
Whatever you think of conspiracy theories, they certainly make for entertaining cinema. Stone makes an excellent job of injecting life into the process of delivering potentially dry information surrounding Kennedy’s assassination and there are some compelling, if historically questionable, points made about what happened on that day.
8 ) Talk Radio
Partially based on the murder of a real life radio personality and the stage play which fictionalised his life, this film won Stone further critical plaudits and widespread recognition for his talents as both a writer and director.
7) Wall Street
Charlie Sheen’s young stockbroker is seduced by the image of power and detachment offered by famed financial shark Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas) in this movie which epitomises the empty materialism of the 1980s. Unfortunately the unnecessarily soft and sentimental sequel which Stone directed in 2011 seems to soften the bite of the 1987 original.
The grimy surrealism and violence of Quentin Tarantino’s original story are brought to life through the effectively off-kilter direction offered by Stone. It remains an icon of the extreme cinema scene which became more acceptable amongst mainstream audiences in the mid-90s.
Many people might not remember a time when Tom Cruise took on difficult roles rather than parts in guaranteed blockbusters or safe action sequels. If you’re in this camp, check out Born on the Fourth of July for a carefully constructed look at the Vietnam war and its impact on the young men who were broken by it.
4) Nixon
This rambling biopic provides another sympathetic look at an American president who is remembered as a risible caricature rather than a venerable statesman. Anthony Hopkins is on top form as Nixon, while the film’s tone and pace make up for any qualms over its accuracy.
3) Salvador
Stone’s first critical success as a filmmaker came with this 1986 movie about a photojournalist trying to survive during the civil war in El Salvador. James Woods and Jim Belushi star and the film shows Stone finding his feet as the director of overtly political material.
2) Scarface
Although the direction was handled by Brian De Palma, Stone wrote the script for this seminal gangster flick which still encourages hip hop stars to gleefully misinterpret its message and glorify its antihero Tony Montana.
1) Platoon
While this Vietnam war movie is slightly overshadowed by Apocalypse Now, it is still an Oscar-winning tale penned by Stone himself that delves into the complex ethics involved in armed combat.
