Summary - Good 3.0

Pat Tillman gave up a lucrative NFL playing career after September 11, 2001 to join the US Army Rangers. Sadly, he was killed in the mountains of Afghanistan, creating a wave of media attention.

Initially, Tillman was said to have been killed in a heroic battle against Taliban fighters. He was reported to have been ordering his men into the fight, leading a John Wayne-esqe charge against a larger force. He had become the ultimate poster for patriotism and the war on terror. Only until later was the truth of his death made public. Instead of enemy forces, it was his own troops who had killed him, and then helped participate in the cover-up. Fratricide had been spun into Patriotism.

The Tillman Story outlines all of these actions, including tense interviews with his family, who are rightfully outraged at the spin the US government had put on his death. But more interesting was the history of Tillman and his family, from their strong atheist views, to the insatiable quest Tillman had for adventure and deeper understanding of man. He was a complex individual, who balanced a need for outrageous adventure, with a deep and private affection for his country.

A good film that speaks of the complexity of men, and the government’s willingness to use media as a motivational tool for public support.

Acting - Good 3.0

Powerful interviews with his family reveal a lot about the man and his beliefs.

Film - Very Good 3.5

Edge - Risqué 2.1

Pat was a fiesty guy, and his family shares his zeal for the extreme. Of particular note was his younger brother getting up at a memorial service after a woman had just given a flowing ulogy about Pat being in heaven looking over us. The brother carried a can of beer up to the podium with him, gave a toast to Pat, and gave a profanity laced response including Pat's non-belief in heaven.

Reality - Natural 1.0

Reality is what is at stake here. And the reality of those events in the mountains of a far away land are far different than what we were told initially.

1 Comment

• Wick Jul 15, 2011 4:01PM

  Regarding BigdaddyDave’s Review
  Solid, plain spoken review BigD. I haven’t seen the movie but have followed this tragedy closely from the beginning. My understanding is that the cause of Pat Tillman’s death is best described as friendly fire. Fratricide connotes malicious intent.

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