Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows Shop News Showtimes

Tigerland

R Released Sep 13, 2000 1h 49m Drama List
77% Tomatometer 47 Reviews 71% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
1971. A nation stands divided over the escalating war in Vietnam. Thousands of young Americans lie dead on foreign soil. And at Fort Polk, Louisiana, thousands more prepare to join them. The specter of combat hangs over the men of A-Company, Second Platoon, as they enter the final stage of infantry training. They will be sent to the war. But each man deals with this prospect in his own way. One man's defiance, however, galvanizes every member of the platoon.
Watch on Fandango at Home Buy Now

Where to Watch

Tigerland

Tigerland

What to Know

Critics Consensus

A great cast and the gritty feel of the film help elevate Tigerland above the familiarity of the subject matter.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View All (47) Critics Reviews
Emanuel Levy Variety This take on Vietnam War doesn't break new thematic ground but it's Schumacher's best film since the 1993 Falling Down, and it showcases the talents of newcomer Colin Farrell, who has everything that it takes to become a major Hollywood star Rated: B+ Jan 4, 2007 Full Review Geoff Andrew Time Out Stylistically this is more interesting and more affected than Schumacher's Flawless. Either way, it's a big improvement on his past tendentious nonsense. Jun 24, 2006 Full Review Globe and Mail Rated: 3/4 Apr 25, 2003 Full Review Tom Meek Cambridge Day It's nothing like the first half of Full Metal Jacket, but an intriguing companion watch. Jul 8, 2020 Full Review James Plath Movie Metropolis I wouldn't put Tigerland in the top ranks of war movies, but it's a solid second-tier entry that makes you think about the characters. Rated: 7/10 May 4, 2012 Full Review Eric Melin Scene-Stealers.com Farrell is the best thing about the film, which veers into oversentimentality quite a bit for a film that's shot with such a gritty aesthetic. Rated: 2/4 Jun 27, 2011 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (796) audience reviews
KB B This was such an engaging film with great acting and storyline. It's a different take for a war movie. It's definitely worth the watch. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/20/24 Full Review Carlos S The writing is so insightful without giving away anything the ebb and flow of this movie is so period perfect, even Colin's pretty face is believable you feel this movie you don't just watch it ....especially for us Vets !!!! Five Star for sure !!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/05/24 Full Review bryan r A favorite that I watch every few years. There are a few shorter stories in the story arc, all tell us something about Bozz. I like how the moon affects him. Although I probably first saw Farrell as Bullseye in DAREDEVIL (Ben Affleck), this movie and PHONE BOOTH made him one of the few actors with enough gravitas to make me see a movie knowing very little of the story in advance. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Doesn't take hold until the second half, not a typical military movie. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/07/23 Full Review Audience Member In September 1971, the US is losing the Vietnam War. Private Roland Bozz (Colin Farrell), a draftee opposed to the war, is an unruly soldier who disrespects authority. He befriends another Army recruit, Jim Paxton, an aspiring writer who records his experiences in a journal. Unlike Bozz, Paxton volunteered. Upon reaching their post, company commanding officer Captain Saunders explains that every soldier who passes through Fort Polk will be sent to Vietnam, and that any political views on the war are irrelevant. Having "X-ray vision for loopholes", Bozz finds ways for soldiers to get out of the army — one because he not only has children but also a handicapped wife; another, Miter, had joined to prove his manhood but finds himself overwhelmed. Eventually Bozz's natural leadership and ability earn him the title of squad leader. Another private, Wilson, a racial bigot and instigator, continuously demeans Miter and Bozz. Bozz fights and easily beats Wilson, earning Wilson's hatred. Later, during live fire exercises, Wilson threatens Bozz with a pistol. Bozz tries to disarm Wilson, and the two wrestle each other to the ground, with Wilson prevailing and putting the gun to the back of Bozz's head and pulling the trigger. Miraculously, the gun misfires, saving Bozz's life. Saunders lets Bozz choose the punishment: have Wilson court-martialed or "let me deal with him", strongly suggesting the latter. Bozz says he wants Wilson "out of the Army", because he recognizes Wilson has emotionally suffered ever since his inability to command became obvious. The platoon is sent to "Tigerland", a forested training area designed as a replica of Vietnam. During an exercise, Bozz's squad acts as villagers in a mock Vietnamese village, with one squad member designated as a Viet Cong sympathizer. They compete with another squad charged with rooting out the sympathizer, led by Wilson, who was ultimately spared. As the exercise ends with Bozz's squad "winning", Wilson tells Bozz he will kill him no matter what it takes. Soon thereafter, Bozz plans to escape to Mexico with the aid of some civilians he has paid. Platoon member Johnson tells him if he runs away, Wilson will kill Paxton instead. Bozz remains... Tigerland received positive reviews from critics and Rotten Tomatoes consensus states "A great cast and the gritty feel of the film help elevate Tigerland above the familiarity of the subject matter." Joel Schumacher´s Vietnam war drama has an intense Colin Farrell in the lead as Private Roland Bozz, but the film suffers from not creating enough of an authentic vibe and look to me. I like the handheld documentary style, but that´s not enough. And the fact that Stanley Kubrick blew our minds how he portrayed a training camp for soldiers to be sent to the Vietnam War in "Full Metal Jacket", it´s inevitable that "Tigerland" ends up way below that film trying to do the same. Trivia: Tigerland was the name of a U.S. Army training camp during the mid-1960s to early 1970s, located at Fort Polk, Louisiana as part of the U.S. Army Advanced Infantry Training Center. As often the last stop for new infantrymen on their way to Vietnam, Tigerland was established in humid and muggy Fort Polk in order to closely mimic the environmental conditions of South Vietnam. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/21/23 Full Review Audience Member This film showed why Colin Ferrell eventually became a star. Even with a weak script, you could tell he was tapping into major Steve McQueen cool vibes. The rest of the cast is forgettable but not bad. The ending was actually the best part of the film for me. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/10/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Tigerland

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

Rules of Engagement 37% 55% Rules of Engagement The New Age 67% 38% The New Age Waking the Dead 50% 77% Waking the Dead Deterrence 46% 59% Deterrence Gerry 61% 60% Gerry Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis 1971. A nation stands divided over the escalating war in Vietnam. Thousands of young Americans lie dead on foreign soil. And at Fort Polk, Louisiana, thousands more prepare to join them. The specter of combat hangs over the men of A-Company, Second Platoon, as they enter the final stage of infantry training. They will be sent to the war. But each man deals with this prospect in his own way. One man's defiance, however, galvanizes every member of the platoon.
Director
Joel Schumacher
Producer
Arnon Milchan, Beau Flynn, Steven Haft
Screenwriter
Ross Klavan, Michael McGruther
Distributor
20th Century Fox
Production Co
Regency Entertainment, New Regency Pictures, KirchMedia, Haft Entertainment
Rating
R (Language|Drug Use|Strong Sexuality|Violence)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 13, 2000, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA)
$139.3K
Runtime
1h 49m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Dolby Stereo
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.66:1)
Most Popular at Home Now