Tigerland
Thursday, June 26, 2008
“The system wanted them to become soldiers. One soldier just wanted to be human.”
I rented this movie a few of years ago when Colin Farrell blew up. I was actually surprised with this one. I guess I tend to expect someone like Farrell’s earlier work to be hokey, but it’s actually a lot better than some of his more recent stuff… [don't tell him I said so...lol].
Tigerland is a story that centers around Pvt. Roland Bozz [Farrell], an anti-war enlistee among a sea of drafted guys, who wants to experience Vietnam first hand so he can write about it later. ’Bozz’ is naturally rebellious but also very smart. He starts getting busted on-purpose to prolong his stay in Advanced Infantry Training at Fort Polk, Louisiana when he sees how some personalities just aren’t cut out for the brute reality of war and helps come up with ways to have the weaker guys discharged before they’re shipped off to war. The more he’s busted, the longer he has to stay. For the most part he doesn’t get along with most – including his superior officers – because of his disdain for war in general, but eventually the brass start to realize what he’s doing, and admit that he has leadership potential. The last week of training takes place in the swampy, Vietnam-like Tigerland where the dangers are real and things hit the fan as some lose their minds…
This movie had me completely entralled – I loved the characters, the relationships, the interaction… it was all so realistic – partly due to Schumacher’s gritty documentary hand-held style of filming, but also due to the amazing performances. I bawled my eyes out at the end [and I NEVER cry]… and I immediately hit ‘play’ and watched it all the way through again. I joke that I was a soldier in Vietnam in my last life… I always seem to get a weird reaction to Vietnam movies that I don’t get with other war movies… who knows. Maybe it was because I was born in the 70s. Either way, this movie was brilliant. And now I want to watch it again. Colin Farrell did a great job, as did Clifton Collins, Jr. who played his buddy, Pvt. Miter.
If you like war movies, or just really great drama – definitely check this one out. If you’re sensitive to vulgar language, this movie will probably be 100 minutes of torture… the dialog is great, but riddled with cussing… you have been warned. ;) 4 out of 5.
Add’l Info: Released: Oct 6, 2000 [USA: NYC & LA only] • Runtime: 100 minutes • Rated R for violence, pervasive language, a scene of strong sexuality and some drug use
