Tigerland

About Tigerland

Tigerland is a 2000 film, starring Colin Farrell in his role as Private Roland Bozz, taking place in a training camp for soldiers to be sent to the Vietnam War. Tigerland was the name of a U.S. Army training camp located at Fort Polk, Louisiana as was part of the U.S. Army Advanced Infantry Training Center. The setting of the movie appears to be loosely based on this training camp.

Bozz (Colin Farrell), a drafted soldier who is opposed to the war, is shown to be an unruly soldier who has no respect for authority: disobeying orders, talking back to his superiors, and having a foul mouth. He quickly befriends another soldier known as Paxton (Matthew Davis).

It is the year 1971 and as the film progresses, another side of Bozz is shown. Having "x-ray vision for loopholes," Bozz finds ways for soldiers to get out of the army, one because he has not only his children, but a handicapped wife with her own, and later another soldier Miter (Clifton Collins Jr.) who joined to prove his manhood but finds himself way over his head. Bozz also shows his reasoning behind being opposed to the war: his human compassion. Eventually Bozz's natural leadership and ability earns him the title of platoon leader. Another private named Wilson (who is a racial bigot and also an instigator) continuously demeans Miter and Bozz (basically anyone whom he judges to be "weaker" than himself). Bozz is the only one that retaliates, which results in a fight between the two. As the fight is broken up and Paxton gets involved, he also garners the hatred of Wilson.