Body of War
Body of War is a 2007 documentary film about Iraq War veteran Tomas Young. Bill Moyers Journal featured a one-hour special about Body of War including interviews with filmmakers Ellen Spiro and Phil Donahue.
Body of War | |
---|---|
Directed by | Ellen Spiro and Phil Donahue |
Produced by | Ellen Spiro and Phil Donahue |
Starring | Tomas Young |
Cinematography | Ellen Spiro |
Edited by | Bernadine Colish |
Music by | Eddie Vedder |
Distributed by | Film Sales Company |
Release date |
|
Running time | 87 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Summary
Shocked by the September 11 attacks Tomas Young wants to defend his country and subsequently he joins the United States Armed Forces. As a soldier he is sent to Iraq and soon after his arrival a marksman's bullet maims him. Intercut with his personal story is footage from Congressional proceedings in Washington, D.C. which led to this controversial war.
Accolades
- Shortlisted for an Oscar nomination from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.[2]
- Best Documentary (National Board of Review of Motion Pictures)[3]
- People's Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival.[4]
- Audience Award for Best Documentary at the Hamptons International Film Festival.[5]
Critical reception
Time assessed the documentary as "superb" and "very moving".[1] The Washington Post considered the documentary well-told, upsetting and "ferocious".[6] The Hollywood Reporter certified "Body of War" was special among other antiwar documentaries for its "identification" with one particular human fate.[7] Moving Pictures agreed the film "secures its strength" by that.[8] The Los Angeles Times described this narrative as a "heartbreaking account" and moreover spoke of a strong indictment of "the tactical politics that led to the invasion".[9] The Boston Globe and The Kansas City Star also called it "heartbreaking".[10][11] The Toronto Star appreciated protagonist Tomas Young as a "fascinating, charismatic character".[12] The Philadelphia Inquirer stated Young's filmic portrait was a "complex profile in courage".[13] The Austin Chronicle said "Body of War" was "affecting" and a "cinematic argument against the war".[14] TV Guide resumed it was a "powerful film".[15]
Media coverage
- Moyers, Bill. Bill Moyers Journal . BODY OF WAR | PBS pbs.org/moyers 2008-03-21. Retrieved on 2008-3-29.
- Zeitchik, Steven. Donahue's 'Body' Builds Buzz: Talkshow Icon's Documentary Sparks Interest. Variety. 2007-7-8. Retrieved on 2007-7-12.
- Goodman, Amy. 'Democracy Now' interview with Phil Donahue and Ellen Spiro Democracy Now. 2008-3-25.[16]
- Gillette, Felix. Phil Donahue Strikes Back. The New York Observer. 2007-6-19. Retrieved on 2007-6-25.
- Donahue, Phil. Body of War. The Huffington Post. 2007-6-17. Retrieved on 2007-6-25.
- Kluger, Bruce. Films No Longer Wait for History. USA Today. 2007-10-31.[17]
- Friedman, Roger. Phil Donahue Makes Anti-War Film. FoxNews.com. 2006-11-27. Retrieved on 2007-6-25.
- Celizic, Mike. Phil Donahue Unveils Documentary on Wounded GI Today. MSNBC.com. 2008-4-1.[18]
- Next on Phil Donahue: Body of War Archived 2008-04-10 at the Wayback Machine New York Daily News. 2008-4-5.[19]
- Silverman, Jason. Donahue Tackles Iraq in Body of War. Wired.[20]
- Niles Folsom, Chandra. So What Do You Do, Phil Donahue? MediaBistro.com. 2007-6-6. Retrieved on 2007-6-25.
- Powers, Ann. A War Vet's Unlikely Seat in the Spotlight Los Angeles Times. 2008-4-20.[21]
- Newman, Laura. Interview: Ellen Spiro (co-director for Body of War) Ioncinema.com. 2008-4-18.[22]
- Priesmeyer, Molly. Tomas Young of Body of War Continues his Fight. Minnesota Monitor. 2008-5-16.[23]
- Frehsee, Nicole. Body of War Hero Talks Eddie Vedder, SXSW Premiere Rolling Stone. 2008-3-6.[24]
Soundtrack
The double-CD compilation of songs curated by Iraq war veteran Tomas Young, was released by Sire Records on March 18, 2008 — two days before the fifth anniversary of the United States' invasion of Iraq. A Body of War music site was created to provide special features and related links.
Disc one
- Brendan James – "Hero's Song"
- Lupe Fiasco – "American Terrorist" (Fiasco, Prolyfic, Armando Corea) – 4:40
- Michael Franti & Spearhead – "Light Up Ya Lighter" (Franti, Itiene) – 4:57
- Rage Against the Machine – "Guerrilla Radio" – 3:26
- Public Enemy – "Son of a Bush" – 5:52
- Serj Tankian – "Empty Walls" (Tankian) – 3:49
- Bad Religion – "Let Them Eat War" (Brian Baker, Jay Bentley, Sage Francis, Brett Gurewitz, Brooks Wackerman) – 2:57
- Against Me! – "White People for Peace" (Tom Gabel) – 3:33
- The Bouncing Souls – "Letter from Iraq" (The Bouncing Souls, Garett Reppenhagen) – 2:57
- Dilated Peoples – "War" (Questlove)
- Rx Bandits – "Overcome (The Recapitulation)" – 3:46
- No Use for a Name – "Fields of Agony" – 2:24
- Talib Kweli & Cornel West – "Bushonomics"
- Immortal Technique – "The 4th Branch" – 5:20
- System of a Down – "B.Y.O.B." (Daron Malakian, Casey Chaos, Serj Tankian) – 4:17
- Eddie Vedder & Ben Harper – "No More" [Live]
Disc two
- Bruce Springsteen – "Devils & Dust" (Springsteen) – 4:58
- Pearl Jam – "Masters of War" [Live] (Bob Dylan)
- Bright Eyes – "When the President Talks to God" (Conor Oberst) – 2:46
- John Lennon – "Gimme Some Truth" (Lennon) – 3:16
- Neil Young – "The Restless Consumer"
- The Nightwatchman – "Battle Hymns"
- Kimya Dawson – "Anthrax"
- Blow Up Hollywood – "WMD"
- David Ford – "State of the Union" (Ford)
- Tori Amos – "Yo George" (Amos) – 1:25
- Laura Cantrell – "Love Vigilantes"
- Ben Harper – "Black Rain" (Ben Harper/Jason Yates)
- Roger Waters – "To Kill the Child"
- Tom Waits – "Day After Tomorrow" (Kathleen Brennan, Waits)
References
- Corliss, Richard. 9/11 at the Toronto Film Festival. Time magazine. 2007-9-11. Retrieved on 2007-11/29.
- Melidonian, Teni. 15 Docs Move Ahead in 2007 Oscar Race Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences official website. 2007-11-19. Retrieved on 2007-12-3.
- "2007 Award Winners". National Board of Review of Motion Pictures. 2016. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
- TIFFReviews, 2007 edition Archived January 21, 2008, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 10/29/07.
- 2007 Hamptons International Film Festival Awards Archived 2007-10-29 at the Wayback Machine Hamptons International Film Festival official website. Retrieved on 10/29/07.
- Anderson, John. 'Body of War': Probing a Nation's Wounds "The Washington Post". 2008-4-4. Retrieved on 2009-3-29.
- DeFore John. A Wounded Soldier Turns Anti-War Campaigner in Docu Co-Directed by First-Timer Phil Donahue. Archived 2009-02-07 at the Wayback Machine The Hollywood Reporter. 2007-9-19. Retrieved on 2007-11/29.
- Elliot V. Kotek Body of War Archived January 25, 2009, at the Wayback Machine Moving Pictures Magazine. 2008. Retrieved on 2009-4/2.
- Chocano, Carina. Body of War "The Los Angeles Times". 2008-4-25. Retrieved on 2009-3/29.
- Morris, Wesley. War, and No Peace, for One Soldier. Boston Globe. 2008-4-11. Retrieved on 2009-4/2.
- Butler, Robert. Body of War Archived July 13, 2011, at the Wayback Machine KansasCity.com. 2008-3-4. Retrieved on 2009-4/2
- Knelman, Martin. Paralyzed Vet Soldiering on as an Anti-War Icon. The Toronto Star. 2007-9-11. Retrieved on 2007-11/29.
- Rickey, Carrie. Soldier's Story of War in Iraq Hurts, Moves. "The Philadelphia Inquirer". 2008-5-2. Retrieved on 2009-3/28.
- Savlov, Marc. Body of War. Austin Chronicle. 2008-3-14. Retrieved on 2009-4/2.
- Fox, Ken. Body of War. TV Guide. 2008. Retrieved on 2009-4/2.
- Goodman, Amy. 'Democracy Now' interview with Phil Donahue and Ellen Spiro Democracy Now. 2008-3-25. Retrieved on 2009-4/2.
- Kluger, Bruce. Films No Longer Wait for History Archived October 11, 2008, at the Wayback Machine USA Today. 2007-10-31. Retrieved on 2009-4/2.
- Celizic, Mike. Phil Donahue Unveils Documentary on Wounded GI Today. MSNBC.com. 2008-4-1. Retrieved on 2009-4-2.
- Archived 2008-04-10 at the Wayback Machine New York Daily News. 2008-4-5. Retrieved on 2009-4/2.
- Silverman, Jason. Donahue Tackles Iraq in Body of War Wired. 2008-2-21. Retrieved on 2009-4-2.
- Powers, Ann.War Vet's Unlikely Seat in the Spotlight Los Angeles Times. 2008-4-20. Retrieved on 2009-4-2.
- Newman, Laura. Interview: Ellen Spiro (co-director for Body of War) Ioncinema.com. 2008-4-18. Retrieved on 2009-4/2.
- Priesmeyer, Molly. Tomas Young of Body of War Continues his Fight. Minnesota Monitor. 2008-5-16. Retrieved on 2009-4/2.
- Frehsee, Nicole. Body of War Hero Talks Eddie Vedder, SXSW Premiere Rolling Stone. 2008-3-6. Retrieved on 2009-4/2.