Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
A group of recruits go through Advanced Infantry Training at Fort Polk, Louisiana's infamous Tigerland, last stop before Vietnam for tens of thousands of young men in 1971.
Tigerland is a lean, gripping Vietnam-era drama elevated primarily by Colin Farrell's breakout performance as the charismatic and rebellious Bozz. The plot follows a fairly familiar boot-camp/anti-hero structure but is executed with conviction. Joel Schumacher's decision to shoot on grainy 16mm digital video gives it a raw, documentary-like texture that suits the material without being especially groundbreaking. The ending is understated and appropriately melancholic but not particularly memorable. Novelty is modest — the anti-war soldier archetype and training-camp narrative are well-trodden ground, though the film's gritty aesthetic and Farrell's magnetic presence give it some distinction.