Movie Loner

I’m not sure why I find boot-camp movies so intriguing. Maybe it’s watching human beings endure trials I know I couldn’t handle. Allowing myself to be mentally and physically educated into thinking and behaving under a strict code of conduct quite frankly scares the shit out of me. I’ve always wondered how I would act given those circumstances. Would I give-in to their will, or resist? I do know that it takes a unique individual to become a soldier, especially during war times. Full Metal Jacket, An Officer and a Gentleman, and Jarhead are three different types of films that deconstruct the boot-camp experience. This list should also include Tigerland, an edgy low-budget drama set in 1971 Louisiana at the height of the Vietnam War.

Colin Farell plays Roland Bozz, a smart-ass Army recruit who prefers time spent in the stockade rather than the barracks. He is a conscientious objector who believes the military is no place for any man, let alone himself. Educated, charismatic and disobedient, Bozz relishes his role as outcast. His only real friend is Pvt. Jim Paxton, a wannabe author who gave up college to volunteer for military service. Paxton can see through Bozz’s careless exterior to the scared little boy who dwells inside.

But Bozz is much more willing to help others than himself and it’s this quality that draws the ire of his superior officers.  He moves to the beat of his own drum, much to the chagrin of some of his platoon mates, in particular the mentally unstable Pvt. Wilson who makes it his mission to put Bozz in his place. Matters escalate once the recruits enter Tigerland, the mock Vietnam training ground designed to push soldiers to the brink. To survive Tigerland, Bozz, Wilson and Paxton must defeat not only the elements, but also each other.

Director Joel Schumacher chose a bare bones style for Tigerland and it fits to a tee. Shot on Super 16mm with hand-held cameras, the film adopts a docudrama feel, encapsulating the gritty nature of the intense, often brutal story. To be a soldier means to be a killer. It’s this moral dilemma that challenges every young recruit. Bozz refuses to accept his lot; for him being human means being free, and giving in to an institution designed to strip away humanity would not be true to his nature. He refuses to believe in what the Army represents, so he martyrs himself to save others. His behavior at first glance could be confused for selfishness, but in reality it’s purely selfless. Bozz, like any good hero, protects the weak and those incapable of fighting the system. His relentless defiance to authority is both admirable and reckless. But that’s Bozz: a walking dichotomy who, like war, is confusing and unpredictable.

This film put Colin Farell on the map. His innate rough-n-tumble charm was perfect for the character of Bozz. It’s easy to see why the young actor garnered so much positive reaction for his performance. True “bad boys” are hard to find in Hollywood these days, so Farell fills a void. His style is very naturalistic and fearless. Bozz is not supposed to be a typical tough-guy with all the answers, in fact he’s just the opposite; he’s human and therefore feels human emotions. Credit screenwriters Ross Klaven and Michael McGruther for crafting a multi-layered, conflicted character. Tigerland is proof that strong acting and a well-conceived story can shine a big spotlight on a small movie.

The trailer for Tigerland:

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