Gunner Palace (2004)

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.

Directors:

Petra Epperlein, Michael Tucker

Stars:

Bryant Davis, Devon Dixon, Javorn Drummond

1 nomination.

Cast

Credited 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

Storyline

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:

palace | iraq | iraq war | reference to burger king | star spangled banner | 

---

Taglines:

400 American soldiers carry out their mission from a bombed-out pleasure palace once owned by Saddam Hussein. This is their story.

---

Genres:

Documentary | War

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Details

Official Sites:

Nomados

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 September 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

Palac Gunner

Filming Locations:

Baghdad, Iraq

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$63,520, 6 March 2005

Gross USA:

$607,844

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$607,844

Company Credits

Production Co:

Nomados

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

During a raid on a house, several Iraqi men, brothers, are captured. One of them protests, saying (in English) that he is a journalist. Some of the soldiers tell him to shut up, and he is taken away. As it turns out, this man was indeed a journalist, Yunis Khatayer Abbas. He spent time in jail, some at Abu Ghraib, suspected of plotting to assassinate British PM Tony Blair. After nine months of imprisonment, he was released, and the US has not charged him with any crime. By coincidence, Michael Tucker, the director of "Gunner Palace," heard about Mr. Abbas' story, and worked together to make his latest movie, "The Prisoner, or: How I Planned to Kill Tony Blair."

---

Quotes

PFC Michael Commisso: IEDs are the scariest. I mean, by far, have got to be the scariest. You know, gunfire and crap like that, that shit don't bother me or anyone else. Whatever. IEDs, find that shit in the garbage, man, this whole country's garbage. Everything is just trash, and it could be anywhere, you know. You see us when we're going around the corner, and there's a box on the side of the road, and it's just cringe, and take the turn, and hopefully you don't hear a bang.

---

Connections

Followed by The Prisoner or: How I Planned to Kill Tony Blair (2006)

User Reviews

Something every person in the world should see.

This movie through all its cursing, violence and drug references, this movie takes the "BS" out of the media's broadcasts and throws you straight into what little sense of "reality" one can get of war on the big screen. It leaves the politics behind and puts you straight in the middle of The Sandbox with the men and women who fight for this country. This movie will probably have you laughing your tail end off then in a somber silence in a matter of seconds. Political bias aside, Gunner Palace is something every citizen of the world needs to see, preferably before the next special report on what's "happening" in Iraq.

All this said, I personally walked away with a greater sense of pride in my country's soldiers, in the eyes of everyone of the speakers in this movie I saw those of my friends who have been there or who are there. This movie has moved me in a way which I shall not soon forget. The look of sheer terror and hope all on the same face has a profound effect on one's soul.