Tigerland (2000)

Director:

Joel Schumacher

Writers (WGA):

Ross Klavan (written by) &
Michael McGruther (written by)

Release Date:

19 January 2001 (Sweden)

Genre:

Drama | War

Tagline:

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

Plot:

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.

Plot Keywords:

Female Nudity | Basic Training | Military Base | Vietnam | Vietnam War

Awards:

2 wins & 3 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Tue. Aug. 26

3:15 AM

MAX

Cast

Colin Farrell	...	Pvt. Roland Bozz
Matthew Davis	...	Pvt. Jim Paxton
Clifton Collins Jr.	...	Pvt. Miter
Tom Guiry	...	Pvt. Cantwell (as Thomas Guiry)
Shea Whigham	...	Pvt. Wilson
Russell Richardson	...	Pvt. Johnson
Nick Searcy	...	Capt. Saunders
Afemo Omilami	...	SFC Ezra Landers
James MacDonald	...	Staff Sgt. Thomas (as James McDonald)
Keith Ewell	...	Sgt. Oakes
Matt Gerald	...	Sgt. Eveland
Stephen Fulton	...	Sgt. Drake
Tyler Cravens	...	M.P. Sergeant
Michael Edmiston	...	Hit the Brakes! Driver
Arian Waring Ash	...	Sheri (as Arian Ash)

Also Known As:

Tigerland (Germany)
Tigerland (Finland) (video title) [fi]
Tigerland (Spain) [es]
Tigerland (France) [fr]
Tigrisek földjén (Hungary) [hu]
Zemlja tigrova (Serbia) [sr]

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, pervasive language, a scene of strong sexuality and some drug use.

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Portugal:M/16 | Finland:K-15 | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Canada:R | France:U | Germany:16 | Singapore:R21 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Camp Blanding, Starke, Florida, USA

Company:

Haft Entertainment

Trivia:

The actors had no trailers, make-up artists, hairstylists, chairs or any of the typical luxuries.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Bozz fights with Wilson in the barracks, kneepads can be seen under the stretched material of Wilson’s fatigues.

Quotes:

Sergeant: Get up Lazarus! You're resurrected!
Bozz: [kicks Wilson] ... get up...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in On the Set of Sightlines (2003) (V)

Soundtrack:

SOOKIE SOOKIE

Tigerland, great film showing irreverence and compassion

I really like this movie. Bozz is an ultra-cool, not to be intimidated soldier who does not want to go to war. His persona is similar in a way to Yossarian in Catch-22, Joseph Heller's classic novel about men and war. This film, however, is not set in a war zone, but in a pre-war combat prep training. This wonderful film is all about the sickening realization that the Vietnam war was a mistake and those men who were pegged to be sacrificed for a losing cause.

Colin Farrell is brilliant as Bozz, a soldier who showed as much genuine love and compassion for his fellow soldier as he did disdain and irreverence for the establishment that was trying to kill him. Bozz is totally cool and non-plussed, testing and tweaking his military superiors, getting their goat at every opportunity. He is a Jesus Christ figure with a psychology degree, "saving" his fellow soldiers and showing the ones in genuine need, the way out of this man's army.

The acting and action is crisp and believable and as a "Sleeper", Tigerland goes down with Apocalypse Now and Full Metal Jacket as one of the top three Vietnam films in my opinion.

FIVE STARS, a top pick.