Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk (2016)

19-year-old Billy Lynn is brought home for a victory tour after a harrowing Iraq battle. Through flashbacks, the film shows what really happened to his squad - contrasting the realities of war with America's perceptions.

Director:

Ang Lee

Writers:

Ben Fountain (based on the novel by), Jean-Christophe Castelli (screenplay by)

Stars:

Joe Alwyn, Garrett Hedlund, Arturo Castro

2 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Joe Alwyn	...	Billy
Garrett Hedlund	...	Dime
Arturo Castro	...	Mango
Mason Lee	...	Foo
Astro	...	Lodis (as Brian 'Astro' Bradley)
Beau Knapp	...	Crack
Ismael Cruz Cordova	...	Holliday
Barney Harris	...	Sykes
Vin Diesel	...	Shroom
Steve Martin	...	Norm
Chris Tucker	...	Albert
Kristen Stewart	...	Kathryn
Makenzie Leigh	...	Faison
Ben Platt	...	Josh
Bruce McKinnon	...	Billy's Father

Storyline

2-time Academy Award® winner Ang Lee brings his extraordinary vision to Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk, based on the widely-acclaimed, bestselling novel. The film is told from the view of 19-year-old private Billy Lynn (newcomer Joe Alwyn) who, along with fellow soldiers, is hailed as a 'hero' after a harrowing Iraq battle. He'is brought home for a victory tour. Through flashbacks, the film reveals what really happened to the squad - contrasting the realities of the war with America's perceptions. The film also stars Kristen Stewart, Chris Tucker, Garrett Hedlund, with Vin Diesel, and Steve Martin.

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Plot Keywords:

based on novel | flashback | thanksgiving day | iraq war | character name in title | 

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Genres:

Action | Drama | Sport | Thriller | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language throughout, some war violence, sexual content, and brief drug use

Did You Know?

Trivia

Scheduled for a theatrical release in the Netherlands on January 5, 2017. The release was canceled and the movie instead premiered on Blu-ray and DVD on May 31, 2017.

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Goofs

US Army squads are not designated with letters, they are numbered based on their respective platoon and company's table of organization (so many squads to a platoon, so many platoons to a company, companies to a battalion, battalions to a brigade, brigades to a division). Platoons are numbered in the same manner, respective to their company. A company may be designated with a letter (in the cases of companies that do not deploy except as part of their parent battalion) or with a number (in the cases of "modular" companies that may deploy separately from their parent battalion and placed under the control of a "modular" battalion headquarters when they arrive in theater). Billy's squad would be correctly designated as the 2nd Squad, (numbered) Platoon, (lettered) Company, (numbered) Battalion, (numbered) Brigade of the (numbered) Division. Since this designation is fairly complicated for non-military personnel, Billy and his squad mates would most likely be recognized as Soldiers from the same Division (since they would all wear that Division's patch), without mention of their specific unit within the Division.

The reasoning for Billy's squad being called "Bravo Squad" is explained in the book as being a result of incorrect reporting when the video footage of their battle was aired on the news.

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Quotes

Shroom: We are a nation of children, Billy. We go somewhere else to grow up, sometimes die.

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Connections

Referenced in The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Martin Short & Steve Martin/Ruth Negga/Common (2016)

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Soundtracks

Gotta Get Back to Forgetting You
Written by Scott Christian Hobart
Performed by Rex Hobart & the Misery Boys
Courtesy of Bloodshot Records
By arrangement with DePugh Music

User Reviews

Make You Think

These young men come home to be celebrated, but instead find themselves dropped headfirst into America's worst examples of decadence and greed. It is the most accurate representation I've seen yet, of the cancer eating away at our great country.

Bravo to Mr. Lee!

I have to admit I wasn't expecting a great deal out of this movie's director, what with the failure of 'Hulk', but I walked away from it with a new depth of understanding. It was an astoundingly well portrayed film.

I gave the movie 9 out of 10 because of Vin Diesel's lack-luster performance. Else, the movie was excellent!

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

UK China USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 November 2016 (USA)

Also Known As:

Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk

Filming Locations:

Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$40,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$114,129, 13 November 2016

Gross USA:

$1,738,477

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$30,930,984

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bona Film Group, Dune Films, Film4

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Atmos

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1