the golden globe nominees for best dramatic picture were `` born on the fourth of july , '' in which tom cruise portrays vietnam vet ron kovic ; woody allen 's morality play , `` crimes and misdemeanors '' ; `` dead poets society , '' starring robin williams as a teacher who brings his iconoclastic style to a strict boys prep school ; `` do the right thing , '' spike lee 's controversial look at the makings of an urban race riot , and `` glory , '' a civil war film about the fate of an all-black regiment .