There will never be another role of this type where a relative unknown comes in with such fire. F Lee was a consultant on the movie and had the role down so well they just gave it him.
This one is right near the top for me. Not so much for the Nam part of the movie (though it’s damn good) but for the boot camp parts.
My father went through Parris Island right around the exact time this movie is set in. He said that everything about the boot camp experience at this time was so spot on, especially the Drill Sergeant. Of course, he didn’t have a Pyle in his unit lol….but he did have stories of guys to at cracked up in camp….just not to that level of crazy. In fact, the only thing he really hated about that whole thing was the fact that somehow a grunt could get a hold of a live weapon in barracks.