This movie is not an action movie. Is more of one that deals with the overall trauma after the Vietnam War, and how some dealt with what happened to them. Tom Cruise kinda plays out if his usual "action/hero" persona in this film, portraying a real life individual who in the end protested against the government for the injustice that they put it through.

Nowadays we all know Cruise as an action-man who will go above and beyond what normal actors do in terms of stunts (hanging out of an airplane in Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation). However, he used to give nuanced performances small dramas, or he would at least mix them in with his big action roles (Eyes Wide Shut is the last one that springs to mind, but I'm sure I'm forgetting a couple). In 1988 and 1989 he had the one-two punch of Rain Man (in which he was great even if Hoffman is giving the showy-er performance) and Born on the Fourth of July. Aside from maybe Rain Man and Magnolia, Born on the Fourth of July gives us Cruise as his very best. It's a must watch if you haven't seen it and like Tom Cruise.

1989 American war drama film adaptation of the best-selling autobiography of the same name by Vietnam War veteran Ron Kovic.[2] Tom Cruise plays Ron Kovic, in a performance that earned him his first Academy Award nomination. Oliver Stone (himself a Vietnam veteran) co-wrote the screenplay with Kovic, and also produced and directed the film. Stone wanted to film the movie in Vietnam, but because relations between the United States and Vietnam had not yet been normalized, it was instead filmed in the Philippines. The film is considered part of Stone's "trilogy" of films about the Vietnam War—following Platoon (1986) and preceding Heaven & Earth (1993).

Tom Cruise is outstanding in this role playing Ron Kovic an All American kid who joins the Marines and comes back from Vietnam a double amputee. He then joins protests to end the war and protest at the Republican convention. He finds peace with himself and gives a rousing speech years later at the Democratic convention. William Dafoe gives an excellent performance as another disabled vet.

First, if you have any respect for our men and women in uniform, this is a must see. This is about a man’s passion for serving his country and the struggle he faced when coming home. Tom Cruise had a tremendous performance; if you watched a real life interview of the main character, Ron Kovic, you can see that Tom Cruise has nailed his demeanor and passion. I can’t express enough how great this movie is. I truly think this was Tom at his best.