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 & 6 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

Two-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 point of view of 19-year-old private Billy Lynn (newcomer Joe Alwyn) who, along with his fellow soldiers in Bravo Squad, becomes a hero after a harrowing Iraq battle and is brought home temporarily for a victory tour. Through flashbacks, culminating at the spectacular halftime show of the Thanksgiving Day football game, 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. Lee used new technology, shooting at an ultra-high frame rate for the first time in film history, to create an immersive digital experience helping him dramatize war in a way never seen before. Lee directed and produced the film, from a screenplay by Jean-Christophe ...

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Plot Keywords:

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

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

UK China USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 November 2016 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Longa Caminhada de Billy Lynn

Filming Locations:

Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$40,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$114,129, 13 November 2016

Gross USA:

$1,721,524, 2 December 2016

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$24,336,708, 11 December 2016

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

Garrett Hedlund and Kirsten Stewart previously starred in On the road.

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Goofs

In the movie, the soldiers wear desert uniforms during the show. In the real 2004 NFL Halftime show, the army soldiers wore woodland camouflage uniforms.

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Quotes

Billy: Civilians are the ones running this show. I've lived the damn war but it's still their war. Isn't it?

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Connections

Featured in Film '72: Episode #46.4 (2017)

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Soundtracks

Here for the Party
Written by John Rich, Big Kenny (as Kenny Alphin) and Gretchen Wilson
Performed by Gretchen Wilson
Courtesy of Columbia Nashville
By arrangement with Sony Music Licensing

User Reviews

This is a good movie

This is a good movie. All the discussion about it surrounds the technology used in making it, and that's necessary, but it's not the whole story -- nor is it NOT the story as others would have you believe. The simple fact is that this is a well-acted and at times completely engrossing anti-war picture, one that is more often than not, yes, let down by some of the failings of trying to show off the tech. Some scenes come across as incredibly "stage-y" for lack of a better word, and the lighting can be overlit fluorescent too often (like a docudrama).

However, that being said, I did have the pleasure of actually being able to see this on 3D bluray and I must say it's absolutely the most stunning 3D I think I've ever seen. There's an incredible amount of depth to so many scenes -- sometimes it's showy, but sometimes it's in service of the story like when Billy comes home and the entrance hallway seems to stretch on forever out in front of him, inviting him in to its embrace but also providing a dark trap. The essential conundrum, the doublethink, at the center of his inner workings.