MovieChat Forums > Platoon (1987) Discussion > Lt. Wolfe--just noticed

Lt. Wolfe--just noticed

posted 2 years ago by Dionysus481 (148)
6 replies | jump to latest

I've watched this movie countless times, and something I just really kind of noticed was how Lt. Wolfe has no problem ordering Elias around, but is the total opposite with Barnes, even being subservient to him. Elias seems to be an intelligent strategist and Wolfe dismisses him rather easily in the ambush, but refuses to treat Barnes the same way. I know it's a movie, but it just kind of irks me I guess.
I'm sympathetic to Wolfe, as he seems like a nice person, but he just kept putting down Elias.

[–] BOandBarbecue (2264) 2 years ago

wolfe was a nuthugger. desperate to be like by barnes like an uncool person in school who want to be like by cool kid.

[–] MovieChatUser497 (18943) 2 years ago

He’s intimidated by Barnes but he also knows that Barnes knows more about war than he does

[–] GolfnGuitars (2950) 2 years ago

I believe the U.S. Army actually used this movie (and maybe they still do, I'm not sure) in their officer training as an example of what NOT to do as an officer (Basically, everything Lt.Wolfe does in the movie).

[–] PittPanthers47 (237) 2 years ago

Yes, i believe that I did hear that as well in regards to this film being used as a teaching tool. Wolfe failed to provide the necessary leadership to his rifle platoon as he was hopelessly in over his head and out of his element.

What did Wolfe do right? He did take Barnes aside and tell him that in front of the men he should give the orders. Barnes did not respect him at all. Wolfe also made an attempt to get to know the men by stopping by the barracks and chatting with them in a friendly manner, albeit quite awkward.

What did Wolfe do wrong? How long do you want this thread to go on? He seemed incapable of reading and understanding a map. He called artillery in on his own position. He failed to control the situation in the village when Barnes and others committed war crimes. He failed to report these transgressions to his superior. He failed in having the basic respect of his CO and his noncoms. He failed to do anything to attempt to heal the deadly fracture that occured within the platoon. He failed to control or reel in Barnes at all times. He completely failed in a leadership role that was required of him. He certainly had no easy task in front of him. But he failed rather badly at just about every turn of the road.

[–] GolfnGuitars (2950) 2 years ago

Very good post and I agree with just about all of it. I don't think Lt. Wolfe was a bad person necessarily, but he was definitely in way over his head and he made a lot of poor decisions (as you outlined in your post).

[–] HarveyManFredSin (4877) 2 years ago

I think Wolfe was intimidated by Barnes. Barnes was an 'alpha-male' bully, and most of the troops wanted to stay on his good side.

Many of them looked up to Elias, who was brave, experienced and wise, but I don't think they were scared of him, because he was compassionate and treated them with dignity, and so there was less of a tendency to kowtow to him.

Wolfe wasn't evil, but he was a bit of a jerk, way out of his depth, and so he allowed himself to be cowed by Barnes, when Elias would have been a far better moral compass for him. Plus, Barnes' approach was generally the easy one (i.e. destroy everything and anyone that was a potential threat, regardless of procedure/the Geneva Convention), whereas Elias' was the right and moral one, but also one that might potentially put Wolfe's men at greater risk.