"Tigerland" takes place in the autumn of 1971, when the Army was intent on turning young men into fighting units. One of the guys stationed at Fort Polk is the sensitive Paxton (Matthew Davis), who has literary aspirations. He meets a headstrong character named Bozz (Colin Farrell), who's a born rebel; Bozz has charisma to burn and genuine leadership abilities, but he's also the type to tend to shun responsibility. However, Bozz ends up becoming the guide for a troublesome platoon, and his men must rely on him to get through their rigorous training. The title location is a hellish training ground that will be their last stop before they are actually shipped off to Vietnam.
Director Joel Schumacher gets a fair amount of flak for some of his films, especially his two entries in the "Batman" franchise, but proof that he WAS a highly capable filmmaker can be shown with this arresting little drama. It boasts no big stars of the time, but does feature some top character actors, and some stars-to-be (Michael Shannon also turns up briefly, showing the men the finer points of torturing the enemy). Tension and conflict arise from the presence of the unstable Wilson (Shea Whigham), who ends up with a real chip on his shoulder when it comes to Bozz. Also among the cast are other familiar faces like Cole Hauser, Clifton Collins Jr., Tom Guiry, and Nick Searcy. But it is Farrell, unsurprisingly, who gives "Tigerland" its principal value, playing a guy who may rock the boat, yet is not without some integrity, and the willingness to help out fellow soldiers who need the assistance.
"Tigerland" showcases efficient, solid storytelling, and has some great atmosphere. It does indeed feel reasonably realistic, and it interestingly ends in a more low-key manner than viewers may expect. It features some tunes of the era on the soundtrack, but doesn't go overboard in trying to evoke the period. Nathan Larsons' score is also used sparingly.
This one is definitely worth a viewing if you haven't already seen it.
Eight out of 10.
