Gunner Palace (2004)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Directors:

Petra Epperlein
Michael Tucker

Release Date:

4 March 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary | War

Tagline:

Some war stories will never make the nightly news.

Plot:

American soldiers of the 2/3 Field Artillery, a group known as the "Gunners," tell of their experiences in Baghdad during the Iraq War. Holed up in a bombed out pleasure palace built by Sadaam Hussein, the soldiers endured hostile situations some four months after President George W. Bush declared the end of major combat operations in the country. |

Plot Keywords:

Iraq War | Palace | Iraq | Army | Gulf War

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Bryant Davis	...	Himself
Devon Dixon	...	Himself
Javorn Drummond	...	Himself
Elliot Lovett	...	Himself
Nick Moncrief	...	Himself
Jon Powers	...	Himself
Richmond Shaw	...	Himself
Terry Taylor	...	Himself
Stuart Wilf	...	Himself

Directed by
Petra Epperlein
Michael Tucker

Produced by
Petra Epperlein	....	producer

Original Music by
Robert Cimino

Cinematography by
Michael Tucker

Film Editing by
Petra Epperlein
Michael Tucker

Art Direction by
James David Goldmark

Sound Department
Chris Müller	....	sound mixer
Michael Tucker	....	sound

Music Department
Robert Cimino	....	musician: freestyle beats
Heinrich Kreyenberg	....	musician: piano
Stuart Wilf	....	musician: guitar

Other crew
Winston Emano	....	publicist
David Magdael	....	publicist
Steven Wallace	....	publicist: David Magdael & Associates

Production Companies

• Nomados

Distributors

• Palm Pictures (2005) (USA) (theatrical)
• Palm Pictures (2005) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• David Magdael and Associates  publicity
• Fidelis, Matt & Dean  security
• Studio Babelsberg  sound mix

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 on appeal for strong language throughout, violent situations and some drug references.

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:M18 | Canada:14A | USA:PG-13 (re-rating on appeal) | USA:R (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Baghdad, Iraq

Company:

Nomados

Trivia:

Under normal circumstances more than one use of the word "fuck" would get a film an R-rating. In this instance, the MPAA reasoned that a person old enough to be recruited by the army should be allowed to view a documentary on actual army life. However the rating also carried the notice that it was awarded on appeal to provide a better cautionary warning to parents concerned about what their children are viewing.

Quotes:

Soldier: I don't think ... anywhere in history has someone killed someone else and something better has come out of it. It's just ... not possible.

Movie Connections:

Featured in This Film Is Not Yet Rated (2006)

Informal, behind the scenes look at the modern American soldier

The first thing that struck me was that most of the American soldiers portrayed in this documentary apparently were small town guys, with little education and not as articulate as one would hope. They joined the military not out of patriotism, but for imagined adventure. It was the army or community college. I can sympathize with them and at the same time I can understand why the Iraqi people don't like them. They are crass, bullying and overbearing.But they also are willing to take tremendous risks and are sincere in their efforts to bring stability to a country thousands of miles from their own.

The entire Iraqi war seems to be a tragic, confusing mess and where it goes from here, no one really knows. The American soldiers, many just kids fresh out of high school, really want to put in their time and go home. But we know, even if they survive, they will never be the same again.