Good Morning Vietnam

Barry Levinson, USA 1987, 119 minutes

Without a doubt, Robin Williams' finest hour. Anyone whose knowledge of the man's work extends to Hook, Mrs. Doubtfire and Jumanji, should really check this out and find out why the man is still in work; we just want him to make another film as good as this one.

Earning himself an Oscar nomination as fast-talking DJ Adrian Cronauer, Williams lights up the screen every time he appears on it, and is sorely missed the second he leaves it. Based on a true story, the film opens with Cronauer's arrival in Vietnam at the height of the war to start work on US Armed Forces Radio, an institution floundering in the doldrums as its DJs play Frank Sinatra records and advise demoralised troops on how to avoid razor burns.

As soon as Cronauer hits the air, the dials all go up to 11 as he lets rip with exactly what the troops want to hear: fast, furious, inspired schtick combined with a heavy dose of rock `n' roll. The authorities are torn, enraged by Cronauer's lack of respect for military code on the one hand but astonished at the boost in morale caused by Cronauer's antics. His popularity soars, and it's easy to see why. The real Cronauer was apparently not nearly as funny as Williams, and this is easy to believe. In a style closely approximating his stand-up material, Williams just winds himself up, opens his mouth and lets himself go. It's almost frightening to watch, a little like a tightrope walker. How does he stay up there? You keep waiting for him to put a foot wrong, but he never does.

Barry Levinson directs with aplomb. Knowing that all he needs to do is point the camera at Williams during his monologues, but giving the exterior scenes a strongly evocative sense of place and time, particularly a harrowing bomb blast and a grim montage ironically underscored by Louis Armstrong crooning `What A Wonderful World', he manages to lift the film above `mere' comedy, making it a profoundly moving experience.

"From the start, the film bowls you over with excitement and for those who can hold on, it's a non-stop ride" - Variety

Review by Ben Stephens
Taken from EUFS Programme 1996-97