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      The Tillman Story

      R Released Aug 20, 2010 1 hr. 34 min. Documentary List
      94% 88 Reviews Tomatometer 91% 2,500+ Ratings Audience Score The family of professional football player turned soldier Pat Tillman sets out to explore and uncover the real story behind their son's death in April 2004 when he was serving in Afghanistan. Tillman, killed not by the Taliban as had first been reported, but instead by friendly fire, left a million-dollar career to serve the United States. But, while searching for the truth, his family uncovers more than the real story -- they expose a shocking propagandistic military cover-up. Read More Read Less
      The Tillman Story

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      Critics Consensus

      Passionate, angry, and insightful, The Tillman Story offers a revealing portrait of its subject's inspiring life and untimely death.

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      Audience Reviews

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      Kyle M Insightfully provocative, documentarian Amir Bar-lev solidifies his approach in doing an obstructed story justice with hidden truths digested as more authentical, integral sources than provided records. He spiritually connects with Pat Tillman's admired stature through his family and comrades as they saw, with higher voices, true militaria colors within the period's continuous dishonorably troubled morality within. (A-) Rated 4 out of 5 stars 04/03/24 Full Review Audience Member It’s heartfelt, well-told, at times upsetting and full of detail its a smart, well-put together documentary deciphering the real story about one of the most influential football stars in history you really feel for the family, their loss, and the experience is not to be taken lightly and there's alot to be said for how much the media can sensationalize things and thanks to the fine directing Pat Tillman is better understood as not just a soldier in the war but as a real human being The Tillman Story says you can't ever dishonor a late person's memory and what he/she stands for we as people have the right to get all the facts and no one should ever die in vain Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/06/24 Full Review russ m Masterful. A great example of never blindly accepting ANY explanation. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member That the US government (or any other government for that matter) covers things up and mostly gets away with it should not come as a surprise to anyone. That the US uses their cover-up to glorify their cause, to market their war, that I still find appalling. In a nutshell Pat Tillman is living the all-American dream. He has a beautiful wife and a promising career as an NFL player. He surprises his far from conventional family by giving it all up and enlisting in the army. He is sadly killed in action in what is first reported as an effort to save many lives. He is branded a hero and his face and story splashed across national TV. However, the story is untrue. Mood of the film It is an intriguing look at an unconventional family who thought for themselves and did not blindly follow "God and country". Best performance Pat Tillman comes across as the most intriguing character. Thanks to his very public career as an NFL player there is more than enough footage to give the viewer a glimpse into his character. Also from stories told by friends, family and fellow soldiers he appears to have been a quirky, lively, very committed young man who never wanted fame. Stand-out scene Pat's baby boet gets up at his funeral, glass of beer in hand, and looks all the high and mighty generals and ministers in the eye. They'd all said the same thing: their thoughts are with the family, Pat is with God, it was God's will, etc, etc. So, glass of beer in hand, knowing his brother Pat did not believe in God, baby boet bravely challenges them all by saying, "He's not with God. He's fucking dead, man. He's fucking dead." Negatives The film could have been a tad shorter. Is the film relevant today? Do I need to answer that? Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Awesomely done. Watched it several times. Great appreciation for him and must watch. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/07/23 Full Review Audience Member A little liberal for my liking, but none-the-less it was a story that needed to be told and the federal government was in the wrong. It was kind of surreal seeing some of the generals who I've encountered during my time at MacDill. Pat Tillman was a selfless American hero...and a helluva safety. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/21/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      The Tillman Story

      The Tillman Story (2010) (L-R) Pat Tillman and Kevin Tillman in "The Tillman Story." Pat Tillman in "The Tillman Story." Director Amir Bar-Lev. The Tillman Story (2010) The Tillman Story (2010) View more photos

      Critics Reviews

      View All (88) Critics Reviews
      Christy Lemire Associated Press We may never know exactly who shot Pat Tillman on that ridge in Afghanistan or why, but we have a better idea of who he was. Oct 29, 2010 Full Review Marjorie Baumgarten Austin Chronicle The Tillman Story is an illustrative, cautionary tale, a fact-finding mission that was ultimately stonewalled by Congress, as we witness in heartbreaking footage of the cover-up hearings. Rated: 3/5 Sep 25, 2010 Full Review Lisa Kennedy Denver Post Bar-Lev's documentary's greatest service isn't in recounting the Army's back-pedaling so much as underscoring how communal needs and family grief don't perfectly align. And that political usefulness may attempt to trump all other rites. Rated: 3/4 Sep 17, 2010 Full Review Rene Jordan El Nuevo Herald (Miami) This is a fascinating portrait of a legitimate hero. [Full review in Spanish] Aug 8, 2022 Full Review Brian D. Johnson Maclean's Magazine The Tillman Story is an astonishing case study that drives home the familiar adage that truth is the first casualty of war. Jul 24, 2019 Full Review Mark Warren Esquire Magazine Amir Bar-Lev's powerful film, Tillman, takes in that whole sordid period in the life of America and portrays the singular Tillman family vividly and wonderfully. Oct 18, 2018 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis The family of professional football player turned soldier Pat Tillman sets out to explore and uncover the real story behind their son's death in April 2004 when he was serving in Afghanistan. Tillman, killed not by the Taliban as had first been reported, but instead by friendly fire, left a million-dollar career to serve the United States. But, while searching for the truth, his family uncovers more than the real story -- they expose a shocking propagandistic military cover-up.
      Director
      Amir Bar-Lev
      Executive Producer
      Michael Davies, Robert DeBitetto, Andrew Ruhemann, Molly Thompson
      Screenwriter
      Amir Bar-Lev, Joe Bini, Mark Monroe
      Distributor
      Weinstein Co.
      Production Co
      Prettybird, Diamond Docs, Passion Pictures, A&E IndieFilms
      Rating
      R (Language)
      Genre
      Documentary
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Aug 20, 2010, Limited
      Release Date (Streaming)
      May 7, 2013
      Box Office (Gross USA)
      $798.9K