Born on the Fourth of July: Gut-wrenching and still SO relevant

Okay, so I finally got around to watching "Born on the Fourth of July", and wow. Just… wow. I knew the general gist of the story, but seeing Ron Kovic's journey play out like that, from gung-ho patriot to completely disillusioned and physically broken… it's a LOT. Tom Cruise, whatever you think of him, really commits to this performance. I mean, the scene where he's back home, struggling, and his family just doesn't get it? It's painful to watch. The frustration just radiating off of him. It's not just Cruise, either. The supporting cast, especially Kyra Sedgwick as Donna, really sell the whole small-town-America vibe that gets completely shattered by the war's reality. And honestly, that's what hit me hardest. It's not just about the Vietnam War itself, but how it tore apart families and this idealized version of America. The scene where Kovic finally confronts the recruiter who sold him that dream? Chills. Absolute chills. He's not yelling, he's not even really angry, just… defeated. And that's so much more powerful. Thinking about it now, it really highlights the cost of blind patriotism. Definitely something to think about these days. I'm curious what other people think about Cruise's performance specifically? I know some people struggle with seperating the actor from the roles but he seemed... vulnerable? I don't know maybe that's just me. I also wonder what people think of the ending scene: is it hopeful? Earned? It feels so raw it's hard to feel like anything is neatly resolved. Anyway, I highly recommend checking it out if you haven't. Be prepared to feel things, though. Maybe grab some tissues beforehand. It's not an easy watch, but it's a worthwhile one, especially if you are interested in character studies.