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

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 | Thriller | 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

Real life NFL stars J.J. Watt and Richard Sherman make cameos in the film as Dallas players who ask Billy questions about the war.

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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

Norm Oglesby: [from trailer] Your story Billy, no longer belongs to you. It's America story now.

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Connections

References Boys Don't Cry (1999)

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Soundtracks

Dance Like a Ho
Written by Adam E. Duggins, Fresh Kid Ice (as Christopher Wong Won) and Brother Marquis (as Mark D. Ross)
Performed by 2 Live Crew (as The 2 Live Crew)
Courtesy of Lil' Joe Records, Inc. / Nu Focuz

User Reviews

This movie is far more than anti-war.

Many people said it is an anti-war movie,I don't think so. This movie is far more than anti-war.Because it is not a rich story ,but a rich truth and an emotion. It doesn't want to give you an opinion about what war is, but show you an emotion about a young man and a war. A so-called hero came back from Iraq, how is his life?

In the real world, the truth and emotion are complicated. So it is hard to say what its theme is. Maybe the theme is to doubt our fake society Maybe the theme is to show the hero's confused life. However, they are parts of this movie. It is more like a section of Billy's life. He has family,battle companion, stranger and girlfriends. Sometimes he is distracted at his important moment,sometims all in front of him remind him of war. He sees and thinks.He might find that life is difficult to choose,finally he go back to the place where he belongs.

If you can feel you are Billy Lynn, you can feel how ridiculous this society is.Nobody understands you,people see what they want to see.the sad thing is, you can change nothing but follow the direction of fate.

If you don't have sensory substitution,this movie is boring.

From the beginning of Billy's halftime show， I can't help crying. I even can't detail the reasons of my tears. The emotion is so strong, so complicate and so advanced. I feel so sad about Billy's life.

I think it is a good movie, not very fun, but revolutionary.