CinematographerMatthew Libatiqueshot the film over twenty-eight days on a military base in Starke, Floridain 1999.
What Is Tigerland About?
The story is set at Fort Polk, Louisiana, in September of 1971.
Custom Image by Zanda Rice
Thecomparison with prison, in its dehumanization, is apt.
He provokes true believers, especially racist and borderline psychotic Wilson(Shea Whigham)to hate him.
Many of the other men begin to admire and idolize Bozz.
Image via New Regency Productions
This prompts the platoon commander, Saunders(Nick Searcy), to come down hard on him.
On the firing range, Wilson threatens the pacifist with a loaded gun that jams.
Bozz asks Saunders to court-martial Wilson, but Saunders orders him away, promising to handle Wilson.
His rebellion, successful or not, is his way of feeling alive and in control.
“Some things there’s no moving from.
And I think that’s a good thing.”
In the training environment of Fort Polk during the Vietnam War, a group of young recruits undergoes rigorous training designed to prepare them for combat. Among them, a rebellious soldier challenges the harsh realities of the system while forming bonds with fellow trainees, leading to tensions and personal growth amidst adversity.
Active conscription in America ended in 1973 when the U.S. Military converted to an all-volunteer force.
This was partly due to recognition of thedraft’s failure in Vietnam.
Additionally, with their shorn heads and identical uniforms,the men are often hard to tell apart.
Names and close-ups, which may have helped, are frequently omitted.
On the plus side, it certainly seems authentic.
Its often an ugly film to watch,but the performances are remarkable.
Luckily, this didn’t mean the end of Farrell’s career, in fact, the very opposite.
Tigerlandis available to stream on Amazon Prime Video in the U.S.
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