Afemo Omilami, Clifton Collins Jr., Cole Hauser
Shot in the rough, 16-millimeter style of a low-budget documentary, Tigerland marked director Joel Schumacher's welcomed return to simplicity after a slew of bloated blockbusters like Batman...( read more
). In revitalizing Schumacher's directorial talent, Tigerland--partially inspired by the Danish Dogme 95 movement of no-frills filmmaking--suggested that one solution to Hollywood's moribund "product" was to abandon excess, focus on essentials, and assemble a fine cast of unknown actors to make it all worthwhile. To that end, Tigerland also marked the deserving arrival of Irish actor Colin Farrell as Hollywood's hottest new discovery.
Its story never leaves U.S. soil, so Tigerland differs from such in-country Vietnam films as Platoon and Full Metal Jacket. Instead, it's about the anxieties and moral dilemmas that arise from the anticipation of death and killing. These roiling emotions are focused on the character of Private Bozz (Farrell), whose insubordination betrays a singular knack for leadership during infantry training at Fort Polk, Louisiana, in 1971. Part R.P. McMurphy and part Cool Hand Luke, Bozz is a defiant maverick, barely tolerated by his superiors, challenged or revered by his fellow grunts, and ultimately honed into a soldier of remarkable promise. An intense final week in the live-ammo training ground nicknamed "Tigerland" galvanizes the platoon and Bozz's place in it, and although the film (partially based on cowriter Ross Klavan's own experience) lacks the emotional impact of Platoon, it deals quite potently with the internal conflicts that must be waged before external warfare can be endured. --Jeff Shannon
DVD Release Date: December 18, 2001
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Stats: 860 reviews
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Flixster Reviews (860)
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September 24, 2009Over sentimental rubbish. Tries to pull at your heartstrings but is more likely to made you throw up a little in your mouth! Joel Schumacher trying to do a Dogme film?, do me a favour!
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September 12, 2009An extreamly powerful drama. It's remarkable, thoughtful, conflicting and exhilerating. Director, Joel Schumacher's masterpiece, his finest film yet. A groundbreaking, original, riveting and magnificent tour-de-force of a movie. Colin Farrell is extroadinary, giving an explosive ...( read more)
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May 15, 2009Capt. Saunders: You are pissing your life away.
Bozz: Well, I don't need the fucking army and I don't need the fucking war to tell me that, Sir!
I really enjoyed this movie. It was well made and well acted, keeping me interested throughout. Colin Farrell's first lead role is ea...( read more) -
March 8, 2009"The system wanted them to become soldiers. One soldier just wanted to be human."
A group of recruits go through Advanced Infantry Training at Fort Polk, Louisiana's infamous Tigerland, last stop before Vietnam for tens of thousands of young men in 1971.
REVIE...( read more) -
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November 15, 2009An exceptional film that really delves deep into the U.S. Army and the war. Not many people seem to know this but the movie gets it's name from a U.S. Army training camp located at Fort Polk, Louisiana, that was part of the U.S. Army Advanced Infantry Training Center, and was cal...( read more)
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September 18, 2009Finally, a good (anti-war) film by Schumacher. Engaging and powerful in many ways. Two thumbs up. Different to what we normally see.
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August 8, 2009However saying it was spirits-striking, anti-war, anti-heroism, this film indeed has provided an atypical, different perspective out of the same genre.
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June 30, 2009Such an incredible film. Truly brilliant - without actually seeing the soldiers in war, it was able to capture all its horrors. And in a very real way. Loved it - & thought Farrell was excellent.
Critic Reviews
June 4, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
January 1, 2000
A.O. Scott, The New York Times
Beneath the rough vérité exterior beats the same slick, corny heart that has pumped blood (and money) through Mr. Schumacher's Batman and John Grisham pictures. full review
Comments
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September 16, 2006GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEAAAAAAAAATTTT !!! the story , the action , the staff , the directing ! it's great !!
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