Tigerland / Fox Selections

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

Description
Just release from the base stockade, recruit Roland Bozz (Farrell) joins a platoon of young soldiers preparing to ship out to Vietnam. Bozz's independence and outright defiance draws fire from his own men as well as commanding officers. But when the platoon is sent to Tigerland, a helish training ground that is the last stop before Vietnam, Bozz's leadership and loyalty bring his men together - triggering extraordinary consequences.

The drill instructors in the film were depicted as either totally insane and sadistic or as "tough but fair" professionals. In reality, 99% of the DI's were in the "tough but fair" professionals category. The few sadistic types who slipped through the screening process did not last very long at all.

Another bad fact in the film was the name of the final training phase. "Tigerland" was the name of the entire training area of Fort Polk for Infantry AIT. "Tiger Ridge", or just "The Ridge", was where we went through our final field exercise, which was a lot tougher than depicted in the film.

The main character did a great job of acting. The story was entertaining, but largely fictional. If there was a competent military "technical advisor", present, the director must have totally ignored his advice. Overall the film was entertaining and it reminded me of many of the brave souls I served with.
Sam Carlson
Captain, US Army (Retired)


This is Real   April 25, 2001
17 out of 19 found this review helpful

After I watched this movie I really thought about why it was so good. The conclusion I arrived at was that it put a very original twist on a very documented subject; the Vietnam War.

The film focases on a group of young men in infantry training for combat. Quickly the film introduces it's central character, a rebelious private named Bozz(Coilin Ferrell). Bozz was drafted and does not believe in the army and he will do whatever it takes convey that point except desert. At first nobody likes him because he causes problems for everyone in his platoon. In particular the drill sargents and another private named Wilson(Shea Whigham) despise Bozz. However the rest of the men really start to warm to Bozz and his cause. He makes frinds with Paxton(Matthew Davis) and helps out some other soldiers which gains him favor among the others. Eventually Bozz becomes the leader of the platoon just before thay are sent to Tigerland, which is the name the army has given their mock Vietnam.

Tigerland is different from most war movies in that the soldiers in this film are never shown going to war. Instead the film is all about the training of the soldiers before they actually were sent to fight and the effects it had on them. Essentially not a whole lot happens in this film event wise, but the character study of the young men faced with war is masterful. The performances from the whole cast are excellent. Collin Ferrell is quite exceptional as Bozz. He is clever, funny, objectional, loyal and troubled, which gives the character a lot of depth. Matthew Davis, Clifton Collin Jr, and Shea Whigham all turn in wonderful supporting roles as well. Director Joel Schumacher(The Lost Boys, The client, 8mm) has crafted a beautiful film. His direction is quiet and subtle. His use of hand held cameras with 16mm film gives the movie a unique, documentary feel.

While I was watching this film I had a interesting revilation about it's message. The film actually points out that the men who fought in Vietnam came from different backrounds and had very different opinions about what they were doing there. To many, honor and duty were arbitrary when it came to the war because, like Bozz, it had nothing to do with them. For others it was all that mattered, and for still more they were just there. But for all of them the fear and reality of war was present. Additionally I really got the feeling these men had no idea what they were even preparing for. I would be willing to wager just from watching movies on the Vietnam war such as Platoon, Full Metal Jacket, and Apocalypse Now, that I have a greater understanding of what was happening in Vietnam at the time than these young men did before they were sent. They were trained to fight a enemy they had never seen, half way around the world, and all they really knew was that people were dying. So how could they really be prepared.

I urge people to see this film. It was very well done and worth the time. I am surprised it did not have a wider release in the theatres. It was one of the better films of 2000 and a worthy addition to the chronicles of war pictures. This movie was real.


Damn Good War Movie   April 27, 2001
Greg White (The Forbidden Zone)
13 out of 17 found this review helpful

This film probably deserves 4.5 stars, but I'm giving it the benefit of the doubt on account of Colin Farrel's portrayel of Bozz.

I'll start of by saying this: If you liked Joel Schumacher's other films, chances are, your not gonna be a great big fan of this one. It's shot entirely in 16mm which gives it the feel of a documentary. I must say, generally, I'm not a fan of anything NOT 35mm, but if this were shot any other way, I don't think I just would have gotten the full affect of it. I'm also very impressed that Schumacher decided to go with this than any other mainstream film like "8MM" which, no offense to Mr. Schumacher, well, sucked.

The film's main character is Bozz, portrayed by Colin Farrel, wonderfully. Bozz is a badass who was drafted and doesn't believe in war. His commanding officers tell him time and again that he could be on of the best soldiers if he chose to, but he just doesn't agree with putting another human being through that kind of punishment. One scene that really got to me was when a sergeant is teaching the "soldiers" how to get information from "Charlies". They attach two wires to the man's testicles and let 'er rip. This was one of the, if not the, best acting in the entire movie. Just the way Farrel talks, and his facial expressions are enough to make you stand and clap.

I wanted to comment on Colin Farrel's excellent acting, and I'm sure you've read about the plot numerous times already, so I'm going to discuss the features of the DVD. We'll start off with, to me, the most attractive feature added, Colin Farrel's screen tests. In these, you can hear a little bit of his Irish accent, and the video is quite poor. On the other hand, it's a good insight on what he had to get through, and how much more his acting had evolved. His acting is superb is the screen tests, but just not as good as in the movie itself. I'm usually more attracted to a director's work than an actor's, but there was just so much said about Farrel that I couldn't not buy this DVD. The transfer is also decent, and if you buy this, know that it's not supposed to be squeaky clean, and without grain and chroma noise. The havoc of 16mm really added a lot to the film itself, almost as if the video had an uncredited starring role. Also on this DVD is an audio commentary from the director which is pretty good. Another thing that would have been awesome on this DVD is a commentary with the stars, mainly Farrel. There's also a making of "fearurette". Key word here is "Featurette" just not enough there to satisfy me. The DVD is finished off with trailers and TV spots, and an unafvertised trailor for the upcoming "TORA! TORA! TORA!" special edition DVD.

The DVD isn't flawless, but if your a war fan, or just looking for a look at one of the upcoming stars in the industry, this is the way to go. The DVD is well-rounded and the screen tests were definitely worth it. The film is worth a look regardless or whether or not you buy the DVD. You've absolutely got to see this movie, but the DVD is the way to go because you get a look into the process of the movie coming together. This one's definitely deserves to be up on the shelves with all the other great war movies.


BRILLIANT ACTING AND SUPERB STORY TELLING   April 20, 2001
Gerard T. McGuire (Halifax, Pa. United States)
10 out of 11 found this review helpful

It doesnt take explosions and firepower to make a gripping Vietnam movie. As a matter of fact, Joel Schumaker proves it doesnt even take Vietnam to make a gripping Vietnam movie. All you need is a moving tale and a flawless performance from your lead actor. Tigerland has both.

Colin Farrell is Bozz, a renegade private in training before he sets out for the battlefields of Vietnam. His flamboyance and disrespect has him hated by those who would train him and awed by those that would serve with him. His character proves to be more than a rebel. Through a brilliant job of acting Farrell shows Bozz to be scared, anxious, compassionate, and intelligent. The setting of the story revolves around army infantry training that culminates in a mock Vietnam setting called Tigerland. Throughout the movie we are exposed to the emotion of those that fear Vietnam and would do almost anything not to go, and the lunacy of those that welcome the carnage with open arms. The film has many moving moments and the good guy vs. bad guy sub plot that we all love. (The bad guy being a Private Wilson - another fine bit of acting)

Tigerland is full of great imagery and even shot with a grainy texture that gives it a documentary sort of feel. The effect is profound in its pseudo dating of the film, adding an air of authenticity. While this is not an action flick, the acting and flow of the movie are flawless and a great five star tale results.


Tiger, tiger, burning bright...   April 3, 2004
FrKurt Messick (Bloomington, IN USA)
9 out of 12 found this review helpful

Tigerland is a Vietnam war film with a difference. It doesn't have a particular political message regarding Vietnam; it is more of a critique on the culture of warfare in general, where it is difficult to tell the sane from the insane, the true believers from the patriots, and those who simply want to remain alive.

At various points in the film, the commanders in charge of training announce to the platoon that has just made another snafu that they are all dead. 'I'm still alive,' the upstart Bozz (played by Colin Farrell in one of his earliest roles) will almost always announce. At one time, a sergeant tells Bozz that men can't just quit the Army. 'I'm not quitting, I'm just not playing any more,' Bozz calmly announces.

The plot revolves around a platoon at training during the early 1970s, when the horrors of the Vietnam war had been played out on television for the greater part of a decade, and no one really wanted to go as a lowly grunt private. The ultimate in training was Tigerland, a Louisiana swamp area converted into Vietnam-like terrain, for realistic training. Recruit Bozz is almost like a zen master, taking nothing in the training very seriously other than the potential deadening effects it might have on his (and the others' souls). Bozz is a troublemaker to the lock-step training mentality; like many troublemakers, he is in fact a diamond-in-the-rough for leadership, as men naturally follow his lead, and he eventually gets rewarded (or so one might think) with responsibility. However, his primary, self-chosen responsibility seems to be to save people from the Army if they don't warrant being there -- to this end, he helps arrange in ambiguous fashion various types of hardship and disability discharges for others in the platoon, but fails to escape the fate of going to Vietnam himself.

Colin Farrell is the only big 'name' in the film, and when it was filmed, he wasn't yet as well known as he is in the post Recruit/SWAT days. Director Joel Schumacher, known for big-budget blockbusters such as Batman & Robin, filmed this in grainy, shorter film, with no steady cams and harsh cinematography, reflecting the harshness of the training and the unsteady nature of the reality of war. For a Vietnam war film, this film is unique in that it never actually goes to Vietnam; everything is a home-grown re-creation -- perhaps this is another statement on the reality of war?

The roles of Paxton (Matthew Davis) and others recruits in the platoon are played with honesty and integrity; the officers and trainers are bit less realistic at times it seems, but then such officials must needs put on a persona when in such roles, so perhaps this is reflected in the actors' performances as actors in a very different engagement.

The DVD has a few extras, including Colin Farrell's screen test. A fascinating film, enigmatic in its ending and the overall meaning, save to say that perhaps all of war, and most of life generally, is absurd.