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March 1, 2005
More Gunner Palace Reviews
I'll come back to these reviews later, but these reviews of Gunner Palace are worth reading. First, James Wolcott criticizes Ken Tucker's review of Michael Tucker's film. I need to re-read both of them before I take a position on their debate, but this is a good occasion to remind myself that I should be reading Wolcott more often. Meanwhile, J. Hoberman reads the film, much like I do, in terms of the "rap and reality TV" the soldiers use to mediate their experiences of the war.
Thanks to GreenCine for tracking down all of these reviews and for mentioning the fact that Outfoxed and Uncovered director Robert Greenwald now has a blog. Yep, we really do read these things!
Update: Also worth noting is Mary Ann Johanson's review of A Company of Soldiers and Gunner Palace at Flick Filosopher. Like her, I think these films should be viewed together if at all possible.
Update II (3/6): I just came across this interview with Michael Tucker on the Apple website. I didn't realize that Tucker and Epperlein substantially assembled the film on their Macs using Final Cut Pro, reminding me of Jonathan Caouette's similar work on Tarnation. Also worth noting in the interview is the role of communications technology in changing the relationship between the war and the home. The interview quotes one of Tucker's diary entries, noting that "Nothing is more bizarre than watching a soldier argue with his wife about which bills to pay as a firefight plays in the distance. The irony is, all the technology in the world can’t bring them home. You feel close, but in reality, you are further away than you thought."
Posted by chuck at March 1, 2005 2:23 PM
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Comments
Oddly it only has a few reviews on rottentomatoes. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/gunner_palace/
It must be playing in very few theaters.
Posted by: Chris Martin at March 1, 2005 3:39 PM
It won't be widely released in theaters until this weekend, but the directors have been very active in screening and promoting the film to both military and film buff audiences (not that the two categories are necessarily separate). In that sense, they've cultivated the buzz for the film rather well. I'd imagine we'll be seeing many more reviews in the next week or so.
Posted by: Chuck at March 1, 2005 4:30 PM
Gunner Palace Review
So did they ever get the Mortar out of the pool?
The web page for the film told more of the un bias story than the edited film did. Sadly the
film Gunner Palace portrays some well trained men trying to cope with out showing all
that much about how trained they are. One scary aspect was how some scenes seemed all
to much like a very deadly cops in Iraq but now we follow the cops home and look at their
private time. The soldiers lay their lives on the line and the camera operator does too why
edit the film in a manner that lacks the hope honor and integrity that our Armed forces
really do posses. You can't tell me that all of the soldiers don't realize that oil money
gained in Iraq pays for suicide campaigns???? Talk about defending America and the
world!!! Besides if we don't clean up down there I wonder which regime that needs oil or
bargaining power would?? I guarantee they wouldn't give a care if a single Iraqi family
survived. The real question you’ve got ask is that when we do finally pull out does Iraq
sell oil to the US or China? If they sell to us because they like what we did then it’s worth
while for another generation of Americans to prosper right? If they sell to China and we
needed the oil... it’s really a make or break situation for the US. If the middle east
continues on fanatically the economic and moral toll on this country will lead China to be
the next major superpower if not the European Union. So basically the men in Gunner
Palace are protecting your ability to exist in some semblance of a middle class until our
energy policy provides some means of security meaning fusion, breeder reactor nuclear, or
renewable environmental resources we will continue to be on defensive at the core of the
issue. If you really want to bring them back home go buy a 60 mpg car if you can find one,
and encourage all of your friends to do the same.
Posted by: Djkegus at July 1, 2005 4:05 AM