Tigerland (2000)

76% of critics liked it
(46 reviews)
67% of users liked it
(33,006 ratings)

A young man tries to fight the military system only to find it fighting back in unexpected ways in this hard-edged drama. In 1971, Roland Bozz (Colin Farrell) is a draftee who has been sent to the Advanced Infantry Training Facility in Fort Polk, LA, where with hundreds of other new soldiers he's to… More A young man tries to fight the military system only to find it fighting back in unexpected ways in this hard-edged drama. In 1971, Roland Bozz (Colin Farrell) is a draftee who has been sent to the Advanced Infantry Training Facility in Fort Polk, LA, where with hundreds of other new soldiers he's to be taught a final course in combat skills before being shipped out to Vietnam. Bozz has no interest in going to war, and is determined to get sent home as a troublemaker. But his plan backfires; his superiors regard his insubordination as a sign of intelligence and independent thinking, and he's told he might some day become an officer. Bozz and his fellow soldiers -- aspiring writer Paxton (Matthew Davis), sensitive Miter (Clifton Collins Jr.), philosophical Cantwell (Thomas Guiry), bloodthirsty Wilson (Shea Whigham), and heroic Johnson (Russell Richardson) -- are taught how to survive as they face their fears of death and wonder if they can somehow escape going to war. Tigerland was directed by Joel Schumacher; in a change of pace from his best-known work (Falling Down, Batman Forever, and Batman and Robin), the film was made on a relatively low budget (under $10 million), was written by first-time screenwriters Ross Klavan and Michael McGruther, and features a cast of young, little-known actors. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 49 min.
Directed By: Joel Schumacher
Written By: Michael McGruther, Ross Klaven
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure

In Theaters: Oct 6, 2000 Wide
On DVD: Dec 18, 2001
Studio: 20th Century Fox

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy, Variety
This take on Vietnam War doesn't break new thematic ground but it's Schumacher's best film since the 1993 Falling Down, and it showcases the talents of newcomer Colin Farrell, who has everything that it takes to become a major Hollywood star
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
Even when the script overtaxes the allegory about how Vietnam divided a nation at home, Schumacher and the actors prevail by fixing their sights on what happens to men on that last stop before the game of war becomes a grim reality.
Joel Siegel, Good Morning America
A great army movie.
Edward Guthmann, San Francisco Chronicle
For those who don't mind being challenged, however, and are curious to see why Farrell is being touted as the next big thing, Tigerland has its rewards.
Kirk Honeycutt, Hollywood Reporter
Tigerland lands squarely in the top tier of best movies about America's Vietnam experience.
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
Tigerland is tightly constructed and culminates with a stunningly appropriate charge of ambiguity.
James Plath, Movie Metropolis
I wouldn't put Tigerland in the top ranks of war movies, but it's a solid second-tier entry that makes you think about the characters.
Eric Melin, Scene-Stealers.com
Farrell is the best thing about the film, which veers into oversentimentality quite a bit for a film that's shot with such a gritty aesthetic.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
Stylistically this is more interesting and more affected than Schumacher's Flawless. Either way, it's a big improvement on his past tendentious nonsense.
, Film Threat
Ever since Three Kings redefined just how great a war movie can be, movies like Tigerland have become unforgivable.
Michael Dequina, Film Threat
A talented newcomer with genuine presence, Farrell is able to suggest some complexity in a character that is written without any.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...never quite catches fire or becomes the searing expose that director Schumacher intended.
Brian Mckay, eFilmCritic.com
Farrell holds the film together as the one element that sets this a notch above the average military drama.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
Tigerland will only reinforce one of the biggest complaints regarding Schumacher's work: that it's all about the look, not the material.
Susannah Breslin, Film Threat
At best, Tigerland is not much more than a low-rated, cable-channel movie-of-the-week that should be channel-surfed right on by.
Matthew Turner, ViewLondon
The hype is justified -- Farrell's performance just screams star quality and has already drawn comparisons with Steve McQueen and Paul Newman.
Shlomo Schwartzberg, Boxoffice Magazine
A worthy addition to the Vietnam War film genre.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...while intermittently entertaining and insightful, it does not make it into the higher echelons of great war movies.

Read all 18 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Wahida K

The system wanted them to become soldiers. One soldier just wanted to be human.
Anthony L

Over 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!
Al S

An 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… More
An 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 breakthrough performance that shows what maximum potential really is.
Aaron N

Capt. 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… More
Capt. 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 easily one of his best. If I didn't know (and really enjoy) the fact that he is hardcore Irish, I'd be shocked to learn that he's not actually a Texan, or at least American. This is also good proof that even if director Joel Schumacher has made some really (really) bad movies (Batman & Robin, The Number 23) he still does make a few quality flicks now and again. Staff Sgt. Thomas: Any questions? Bozz: I got a question, Sergeant. If I'm dead, how come I can ask you a question? Set in 1971, Colin Farrell stars as Bozz, a troublemaking soldier in boot camp, making his way into the final weeks before going to the final live-ammo training ground known as Tigerland. Bozz is defiant to the standard rules that the drill sergeants want to impose on him, but he is also a very smart individual, knowing well enough about how to just get by, as well as sometimes help those in need (he also manages to make a few enemies in his squad as well). Soon enough, Bozz is actually given the chance to lead, much to the dismay of some others, but his general manner doesn't change whatsoever, instead, Bozz continues his ways which may or may not get him or others hurt in the process. During all this, Bozz and the one he is closest to a friend with, Paxton (Matthew Davis), have various discussions about the life of a soldier. Bozz: If I told you there was a bunch of people around here who could get us to Mexico, away from the war, would you go? Paxton: No... no I wouldn't. I enlisted, so there is a place for me... and if I don't go, somebody is gonna take that place. And if they die, they're dying for me. The movie succeeds by taking a very simplistic approach. The movie is shot on 16 mm, giving it an extremely grainy quality, providing for a picture that somehow looks good and bad at the same time. All of the actors give the presence of men seeming very natural in their setting. The use of the boot camp set is certainly effective in pulling in the audience. I was very much absorbed into this movie. I found myself entertained throughout, interested in what happened to these characters, and curious about the various elements taking shape in throughout this story. Bozz: What else they gonna do? Send us to Viet-Fucking-Nam? Too late for that shit.
Arash X

Diasppointing & I'm missing what it's trying to say, War is pointless & how it affects humans? well I don't think the movie has done a great job there, & Farrell's supposed to be cool attitude was a bit annoying
Lorenzo v

"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… More
"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. REVIEW Just when you thought you'd had enough of Vietnam movies, comes Tigerland, a refreshingly poignant coming-of-age film that follows a bunch of wet-behind-the-ears Army recruits in the days before they're to be shipped off to war. Joel Schumacher recovers nicely from the car wreck otherwise known as Batman & Robin, invoking subtle performances from a cast of unknowns, led by the magnetic Colin Farrell as Private Bozz, a ne'er-do-well whose motives become clear as the movie unfolds. Matthew Davis is nearly as impressive as Bozz' thoughtful foil, a college boy who's in over his head as he & the other troops progress in their training. And he's not the only one - the mental unravelling of many of the grunts is both moving & mesmerizing. Though it would be easy for the story to tread familiar water & implement stereotypical plot development (soldiers going crazy, racial infighting, horny hookers, etc.), none of it becomes obtrusive. The cast is uniformly fine, though most of the officers at boot camp are paper-thin cruel thugs. Nick Searcy, as a sly commanding officer & Cole Hauser, as the soldiers' no-nonsense instructor at Tigerland, stand out. But the real star here is Farrell, who can do no wrong here. Recalling a young Mel Gibson (no coincidence he's Australian), Farrell shows why he's a superstar in the making & why we should look forward to seeing more of him in the future.
xGary X

Colin Farrell plays an army recruit in basic training for a tour in Vietnam, all the while bucking the system and looking for a way out. I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Schumacher is a hack. Hack, hack, hackety haaack! All he ever does is regurgitate the ideas of… More
Colin Farrell plays an army recruit in basic training for a tour in Vietnam, all the while bucking the system and looking for a way out. I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Schumacher is a hack. Hack, hack, hackety haaack! All he ever does is regurgitate the ideas of others in a rather more bland and insipid way. Here, he obviously saw Saving Private Ryan and thought to himself "Ah sure would like to make me one of them purdy war pictures a-hyuk, a-hyuk!" and set about copying it's pseudo-documentary style. Except instead of a gritty war story, he just rips off every boot camp film in existence, from Full Metal Jacket to An Officer And A Gentleman. Cue abusive stereotypical Sergeants bellowing a stream of swear words and cliched threats at the usual collection of recruits; insubordinate wise-ass, dumb hillbilly, psycho and college boy who misguidedly volunteered, all are present and correct. I can't actually point at any particular part of it and say "that bit is wrong", but it's just so uninspired and lacking in imagination. A pointless film that doesn't bring one single new idea to the genre.
Mike S

A rare treat of a movie. Not only does it fall in great contrast to what we're used to seeing from Hollywood (as in being authentic and well-written, rather than just throwing in a lot of explosions and gunfire), but it's one of extremely few films where Colin Farell… More
A rare treat of a movie. Not only does it fall in great contrast to what we're used to seeing from Hollywood (as in being authentic and well-written, rather than just throwing in a lot of explosions and gunfire), but it's one of extremely few films where Colin Farell actually does some respectable acting. Also, the way things are directed and shot, it feels like it could really have been made in 1971, and that alone is an achievement worth raising my hat to.
William S

Well far be it from me to point out the homo-erotics going on! Not quite a great film but still a very good one with a lot to say. I like it a lot.
Cameron J

Man, I was expecting this to be terrible, seeing as it's a Joel Schumacher film. Well, okay, I've only seen one other Joel Schumacher film, but it was "The Number 23". Of course, I did find that movie to be quite underrated... Yeah, I guess I'm not the best… More
Man, I was expecting this to be terrible, seeing as it's a Joel Schumacher film. Well, okay, I've only seen one other Joel Schumacher film, but it was "The Number 23". Of course, I did find that movie to be quite underrated... Yeah, I guess I'm not the best guy to listen to when it comes to Joel Schumacher films. Of course, this has been praised as one of his best and while that isn't saying a lot, it's still a pretty solid production. Still, it's not in the least above the rule that "Just About All Films Have Flaws". The film suffers from a lack of development, cliches and some slow spots. Another problem with the film is that it doesn't do anything terribly refreshing with its subject matter. Still, through all of its flaws, the film remains charming, when not impacting and gritty, being carried by good performances on and off the screen. Before we discuss that, let's discuss the strengths, which includes reasonably fair good dialogue, fine production designs, fairly effective humor and a solid final act. As for Shumacher's direction, he really conveys the grit of the film. However, when it turns into fun and games, he makes the transition smooth. For this, we also have to thank the actors, who do an excellent job working with the dramatic portions of the film and lead the more amusing points with charisma. Man, my reviews are so redundant that it's depressing. Before I go cry about that, allow me to that "Tigerland" - though nothing terribly offbeat - remains a gritty, moving and charming film carried by solid performances from its cast and director Joel Schumacher.
Mike T

A war-themed variation on Cool Hand Luke, Tigerland is a movie that I enjoyed despite its flaws, primarily because star Colin Farrell has become one of my favorite actors. Although the 16mm cinematography is suitable in the context of the film, the raw photographic quality often feels… More
A war-themed variation on Cool Hand Luke, Tigerland is a movie that I enjoyed despite its flaws, primarily because star Colin Farrell has become one of my favorite actors. Although the 16mm cinematography is suitable in the context of the film, the raw photographic quality often feels misused and haphazard. Joel Schumacher's direction leaves something to be desired, and the script promises a lot in the first act of the film but by the conclusion ends up saying very little. It's a confused, structurally absent piece that flaunts some interesting scenes and a variety of compelling performances. Colin Farrell does an excellent job illustrating his character and, at times, even carrying the picture.
Ed Fucking H

I was actually surprised by this one, saying something as I was planning on hating this movie. First of all I'm not a big fan of most war films and second of all I despise Joel Schumacher (buttpipe who almost ruined the Batman legacy until Christopher Nolan was given the tough… More
I was actually surprised by this one, saying something as I was planning on hating this movie. First of all I'm not a big fan of most war films and second of all I despise Joel Schumacher (buttpipe who almost ruined the Batman legacy until Christopher Nolan was given the tough job of making Batman a force to be reckoned with again.) That being said this movie actually was enjoyable, if a little overly sentimental at times. The film centers around a Platoon in training, getting ready to go into Vietnam. Main character Bozz (Colin Farrell) is something of a rebel, and takes great joy in disobeying his commanding officers and spreading dissent throughout the Platoon. His superiors are divided in how to handle him, as Court Martialling him would be giving into what he want's but allowing him to remain is bad for moral. Farrell's performance is pretty good, even if he sometimes forgets that he is playing an American and American's dont have Irish accents. Whatever, thats a small complaint and easy enough to get past. The film is shot on lo-fi grainy camera's a style that definently did give this movie the grittiness that it needed. Clifton Collins Jr. is very underrated actor, and I enjoy seeing him in almost everything he's in. As far as military training films go, none will ever better Kubricks Full Metal Jacket, but this is an above average entry into that genre. Far from perfect, but this movie is enjoyable, and there is a strong anti-war/military sentiment running throughout. Not as good as it could have been, but much better than I thought it would be. Worth a watch.
Marcus W

Joel Schumacher should never ever be given a large budget. He's a director who does all his best work with the bare minimum given. Here, Farrell plays a man who does not want to be in the army and refuses to play along. Like Falling Down, what starts as a comedy soon becomes… More
Joel Schumacher should never ever be given a large budget. He's a director who does all his best work with the bare minimum given. Here, Farrell plays a man who does not want to be in the army and refuses to play along. Like Falling Down, what starts as a comedy soon becomes something much darker as the consequences of his actions come back on him. It's easily the best 'Nam movie I've seen - even though they never actually go into combat. And it's a film I recommend to everyone no matter what your film tastes. Mesmerising.
Lee K

i thought cool colin farrell in a war pic awesome, i was let down i hated it
Sarah P

An interesting and different kind of war film.