Analyzing Evil: Sergeant Barnes From Platoon

Welcome everyone to the thirty-third episode of Analyzing Evil! Our feature villain for this video is Sergeant Barnes from Platoon. I hope you enjoy, and thanks for watching. If you have any feedback or questions feel free to let me know below!

The song in this video, Haunted, was provided by CO.AG Music. You can find more of their work here:

#SergeantBarnes #Platoon

[nickvoelker]

The scary part is that Barnes was probably a real person. Stone said he based the characters in Platoon on individuals or amalgamations of several individuals that he served with in Vietnam.

[poosnweesism]

Can I just say that Tom Berenger's portrayal of Sgt. Barnes is one of the finest performances in film history

[kingbaby]

Tom Beringer absolutely killed this role. Perfectly cast.

[antonioacevedo]

The scars on Barnes face are a reflection of the condition of his soul.

[mbmc]

Barnes is a great antagonist not just because of his cruel acts, but because he reminds us that, given the right circumstances, we can become monsters too.

[stevekulbacki]

"Barnes been shot seven times. That mean anything to you? The only thing that can kill Barnes is Barnes". I love that scene.

[zerodarkdaygozdd]

"You guys smoke this shit to escape reality? I am Reality" - Barnes

[kevd]

My father served in the 25th Infantry Division in 67-68, and we watched the movie together when I was a kid. I remember saying something like "That Barnes is a bad dude!"
To which my father replied "Yes, but in combat, that's the guy you want in your foxhole." In other words Barnes in one moment may be cruel and murderous in one context, but in another he was bold, brave, tough, and knew how to survive. The tricky part of war is to cultivate the latter while trying to suppress the former.

[IronVigilance]

The care he has for his men while also despising their weakness is actually pretty common in many types of leadership in the military, especially in the infantry world. I think making Barnes a Staff Sergeant was the perfect move to portray his behavior and mindset because of his experience and leadership. I have seen his type of behavior in many of the squad leaders and platoon sergeants I have served under. It's not always considered cruel to expect 100% from your men if you show that you are worth following. Here, Barnes is shown to have the confidence and loyalty of much of the platoon. The thing that people have to understand, is that yes, you have to look out for each other's well being, but you also have to make sure that everyone is ready for warfare. Any moment of laziness, weakness or lack of focus at the wrong time can have dire consequences.

[Anacronian]

What is scary about Barnes is that he is a creature made out of the war, war taught him to be cynical, brutal and callus, so he became those things, war scared him on his face and personality, in another time and in another place he would be a friendly roofer or your local emergency respondent, but war changed him and I think that is the whole point of his character.

[israelromero]

I felt like bunny was more evil and sick than Barnes. Barnes was war hardened and made the way he was. Bunny was just a weirdo who would of probably ended up a serial killer no matter what.

[peterkyriopoulos]

One of the most interesting scenes, is when the small radio guy got hit, and Barnes held him down and tried to remove the shrapnel with his knife and then hand. He really did care for the men.

[ignitionSoldier]

Barnes is easily one of the scariest characters from these types of films. Tom Berenger definitely killed this performance. Barnes is a man who will do anything to accomplish his objectives.

[richardarceo]

Tom Berenger should have won an Academy Award. He was so intense and he truly looked like he had seen too much death and it made him crack. Truly awesome performance.

[drunkenmmamaster]

Barnes's face and the way he says "those mother fuckers" when they see Manny crucified always gives me chills when I watch Platoon

[aylmer]

Once I ran into Francesco Quinn at the Chinese Theater in Hollywood. We shook hands and I reflexively just said to him “the only one who can kill Barnes… is Barnes!” He actually laughed a whole lot and was really friendly about it. Sad that he passed away within a year after that.

[AgtX]

A guy like him would never have fitted back into civilian life, he probably had no intention of surviving the war & wanted to die in combat before it was over.

[joelvalles]

Tom Berenger not receiving an Academy award for this performance is criminal.

[daxisperry]

“The feeling is completely understandable. But the actions are inexcusable.” Perfectly put.

[Guigley]

The shot of Barnes's glowing red eyes is one of the creepiest things I've ever seen in a movie.