A lesser-known Vietnam war film is hailed by fans as the best and “most realistic” movie about the conflict ever. 84 Charlie Mopic (1989) tells the fictional story of an inexperienced filmmaker following a Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP) in the US Army.
The soldiers are on a mission described as routine, but it proves to be anything but and a frantic fight for survival ensues. The film, written and directed by Vietnam War vet Patrick Sheane Duncan, follows the action in a found footage style, via the images and conversations captured by military cameraman Byron Thames (nicknamed MoPic by the squaddies).
Fans praised its unusual point-of-view style and compared its immersive action to the horror classic The Blair Witch Project.
The independent film was shot on a small budget in Southern California, and despite failing to achieve the kind of commercial success of other movies closely associated with the war, many viewers say it still holds up.
One fan on IMDb suggested the film is the most true of films in the genre, which includes classics like Francis Ford Copola’s Apocalypse Now (1979) and Platoon (1986), directed by Oliver Stone.
One fan on called it “Probably the most realistic of all the Viet Nam movies”.
Another said: “Undeservedly little known, as usual for independently produced films, it is not to be missed!”
A third said: “This is the most realistic depiction of Vietnam missions in film. The action is mostly incoherent, making it more realistic.”
One person on Rotten Tomatoes said the film is a “real gem,” adding: “Next to ‘Platoon,’ I think this is the best film about the Vietnam War ever made.”
The film has an 86% rating on the film’s Popcornmeter (the percentage of users who rated it 3.5 stars or higher).
84 Charlie Mopic is streaming now on Amazon Prime.