LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Charlie Sheen, 57, the beloved star of the hit sitcom 'Two and a Half Men', has had his fair share of ups and downs both on and off the screen. Although his departure from the show was a result of personal struggles with alcoholism and substance abuse, there's no denying that Sheen was the heart and soul of the series.
However, amidst his television success, Sheen once faced a disappointing setback in his film career. His collaboration with director Oliver Stone on the 80s classic 'Platoon' earned him critical acclaim and a promising future. Stone was so impressed by Sheen's performance that he made grand promises of major roles down the road.
Charlie Sheen's anticipation turns to betrayal
Excited by the prospect, Sheen eagerly anticipated working on Stone's next project, 'Born on the Fourth of July'. He revealed in an interview that Stone had compared their bond to that of Scorsese and De Niro. “He said we were going to have a relationship like Scorsese and De Niro,” Sheen told Playboy in 2001. “He said Al Pacino wanted to do the movie, De Niro wanted to — everybody wanted to — and ‘I’m going to give you this movie.'”
However, Sheen's excitement quickly turned to betrayal when he discovered that the role had been given to Tom Cruise, 60, instead. Feeling betrayed and hurt, Sheen couldn't comprehend why Stone hadn't even bothered to inform him personally. It was Emilio Estevez, Sheen's brother, who broke the news to him, adding salt to the wound. “Hurt… I wouldn’t have cared if Oliver had called me personally, based on what we’d been through. We fought two wars you know. But here was a crucial point for both of us and he couldn’t even call me and say, ‘I’ve changed my mind?" reported The Things.
A turning point for Tom Cruise's career
In the end, 'Born on the Fourth of July' became a pivotal moment for Cruise. The 1989 film achieved both commercial success, grossing $162 million at the box office, and critical acclaim. Cruise's searing performance challenged his clean-cut image and showcased his talent beyond charm and confidence. He received his first Best Actor Oscar nomination, while Stone won Best Director. The movie marked a turning point in Cruise's career, proving to audiences that he was more than a charismatic leading man.
SBS voiced their thoughts on the role's influence on Cruise's career, "It’s a searing performance, with the young Cruise giving it everything he has (and demolishing his clean-cut image in the process). He was nominated for his first Best Actor Oscar; Oliver Stone won Best Director. More importantly, it was his first real chance to show major audiences that he could really act – that there was more to him than charm, confidence, and that thousand-watt smile."
