Atmosphere and stars make TIGERLAND worth visiting.

Rating: Null/10 (17 October 2000)

For every serious misstep like the rubber-nippled batsuit and the drag queen farce "Flawless," Joel Schumacher offers up a "Lost Boys," or "St. Elmo's Fire" and (for all intents and purposes) temporarily redeems himself, at least in our memories. Yes this is the man who bathed Matthew McConaughey in "all hail the golden hues and locks of this boy from God" light in "A Time to Kill," but he also stood behind and pushed "Queer as Folk" to come to America. So as reviled as the man is, he sometimes has both his heart, mind, and libido in the right place and makes a good film.
Such is the case with TIGERLAND. It's a Vietnam movie that's NOT obsessed with war (take THAT Oliver Stone!). It's more interested in people, a squadron going through boot camp and realistic training (in this "Vietnam simulator" called Tigerland, to be exact), confiding in each other, and earning respect and trust, if not exactly "friendship." It's about authority, and how those in authority are not necessarily BETTER than those they lead, and are often just doing their job the best they can. And it's about the realism of what it takes for a man to be a soldier. And through it all, thank GOD - it's about Matt Davis and Colin Farrel.
First, for those to whom this is good news - both men spend a good deal of the movie in either tank tops, white T-shirts, or completely nude. Both have spend quality time getting to know gym equipment, and the result is very worthwhile. Matt Davis proves again that he's got acting chops behind his rugged good looks, and turns in a very good performance. But the winner at the end is a man named Colin Farrel, who might as well start practicing his upper end leading man salary negotiations now, because he's an amazing find. He plays a Texan named Bozz, but his character isn't a one line write off - he's a rebel, yes, but he's also a patriot, a leader, a pacifist of sorts, a clown, a best friend, a confidant, an insubordinant, a jerk, a weasel, a lothario, and he's magnetic on screen. Natural as all get out, charming to the point that he has charmed YOU by the time you're done with the movie, and extremely good looking, Farrel takes the movie, sticks it in his pocket, and walks away. Without ruining anymore about what his character does for the others in his squad, I will tell you that I have never seen a war film that takes this particular view, and it's refreshing.
It's 90% handheld camera, and there are entire scenes that feel so natural they seem ad libbed. Farrel owns the screen with his McConaughey drawl and rugged looks - and did I mention that fact that he is a stage actor from Ireland, so EVERYTHING that he comes across in this movie (from accent on) is a put on? - when I told my companion that, you could have knocked her over with a feather (so I did - it was funny - you never know when a feather will come in handy).
It's an excellent departure from what else is out there, and since it has not yet attracted much attention, I'd like to add my voice to the presently quiet grumblings of support for this fine attempt.
And that's my two cents.