Body of War
Directed byEllen Spiro and Phil Donahue
Produced byEllen Spiro and Phil Donahue
StarringTomas Young
CinematographyEllen Spiro
Edited byBernadine Colish
Music byEddie Vedder
Distributed byFilm Sales Company
Release date
  • September 2007 (2007-09) (Toronto)[1]
Running time
87 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

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.

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

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

Soundtrack

Main article: Body of War: Songs that Inspired an Iraq War Veteran

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.

Track listing

Disc one

  1. Brendan James – "Hero's Song"
  2. Lupe Fiasco – "American Terrorist" (Fiasco, Prolyfic, Armando Corea) – 4:40
  3. Michael Franti & Spearhead – "Light Up Ya Lighter" (Franti, Itiene) – 4:57
  4. Rage Against the Machine – "Guerrilla Radio" – 3:26
  5. Public Enemy – "Son of a Bush" – 5:52
  6. Serj Tankian – "Empty Walls" (Tankian) – 3:49
  7. Bad Religion – "Let Them Eat War" (Brian Baker, Jay Bentley, Sage Francis, Brett Gurewitz, Brooks Wackerman) – 2:57
  8. Against Me! – "White People for Peace" (Tom Gabel) – 3:33
  9. The Bouncing Souls – "Letter from Iraq" (The Bouncing Souls, Garett Reppenhagen) – 2:57
  10. Dilated Peoples – "War" (Questlove)
  11. Rx Bandits – "Overcome (The Recapitulation)" – 3:46
  12. No Use for a Name – "Fields of Agony" – 2:24
  13. Talib Kweli & Cornel West – "Bushonomics"
  14. Immortal Technique – "The 4th Branch" – 5:20
  15. System of a Down – "B.Y.O.B." (Daron Malakian, Casey Chaos, Serj Tankian) – 4:17
  16. Eddie Vedder & Ben Harper – "No More" [Live]

Disc two

  1. Bruce Springsteen – "Devils & Dust" (Springsteen) – 4:58
  2. Pearl Jam – "Masters of War" [Live] (Bob Dylan)
  3. Bright Eyes – "When the President Talks to God" (Conor Oberst) – 2:46
  4. John Lennon – "Gimme Some Truth" (Lennon) – 3:16
  5. Neil Young – "The Restless Consumer"
  6. The Nightwatchman – "Battle Hymns"
  7. Kimya Dawson – "Anthrax"
  8. Blow Up Hollywood – "WMD"
  9. David Ford – "State of the Union" (Ford)
  10. Tori Amos – "Yo George" (Amos) – 1:25
  11. Laura Cantrell – "Love Vigilantes"
  12. Ben Harper – "Black Rain" (Ben Harper/Jason Yates)
  13. Roger Waters – "To Kill the Child"
  14. Tom Waits – "Day After Tomorrow" (Kathleen Brennan, Waits)

References

  1. ^ a b Corliss, Richard. 9/11 at the Toronto Film Festival. Time magazine. 2007-9-11. Retrieved on 2007-11/29.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ "2007 Award Winners". National Board of Review of Motion Pictures. 2016. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
  4. ^ TIFFReviews, 2007 edition Archived January 21, 2008, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 10/29/07.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ Anderson, John. 'Body of War': Probing a Nation's Wounds "The Washington Post". 2008-4-4. Retrieved on 2009-3-29.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ Elliot V. Kotek Body of War Archived January 25, 2009, at the Wayback Machine Moving Pictures Magazine. 2008. Retrieved on 2009-4/2.
  9. ^ Chocano, Carina. Body of War "The Los Angeles Times". 2008-4-25. Retrieved on 2009-3/29.
  10. ^ Morris, Wesley. War, and No Peace, for One Soldier. Boston Globe. 2008-4-11. Retrieved on 2009-4/2.
  11. ^ Butler, Robert. Body of War Archived July 13, 2011, at the Wayback Machine KansasCity.com. 2008-3-4. Retrieved on 2009-4/2
  12. ^ Knelman, Martin. Paralyzed Vet Soldiering on as an Anti-War Icon. The Toronto Star. 2007-9-11. Retrieved on 2007-11/29.
  13. ^ Rickey, Carrie. Soldier's Story of War in Iraq Hurts, Moves. "The Philadelphia Inquirer". 2008-5-2. Retrieved on 2009-3/28.
  14. ^ Savlov, Marc. Body of War. Austin Chronicle. 2008-3-14. Retrieved on 2009-4/2.
  15. ^ Fox, Ken. Body of War. TV Guide. 2008. Retrieved on 2009-4/2.
  16. ^ Goodman, Amy. 'Democracy Now' interview with Phil Donahue and Ellen Spiro Democracy Now. 2008-3-25. Retrieved on 2009-4/2.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ Celizic, Mike. Phil Donahue Unveils Documentary on Wounded GI Today. MSNBC.com. 2008-4-1. Retrieved on 2009-4-2.
  19. ^ [1] Archived 2008-04-10 at the Wayback Machine New York Daily News. 2008-4-5. Retrieved on 2009-4/2.
  20. ^ Silverman, Jason. Donahue Tackles Iraq in Body of War Wired. 2008-2-21. Retrieved on 2009-4-2.
  21. ^ Powers, Ann.War Vet's Unlikely Seat in the Spotlight[dead link] Los Angeles Times. 2008-4-20. Retrieved on 2009-4-2.
  22. ^ Newman, Laura. Interview: Ellen Spiro (co-director for Body of War) Ioncinema.com. 2008-4-18. Retrieved on 2009-4/2.
  23. ^ Priesmeyer, Molly. Tomas Young of Body of War Continues his Fight. Minnesota Monitor. 2008-5-16. Retrieved on 2009-4/2.
  24. ^ Frehsee, Nicole. Body of War Hero Talks Eddie Vedder, SXSW Premiere Rolling Stone. 2008-3-6. Retrieved on 2009-4/2.

External links

National Board of Review Award for Best Documentary Feature
Categories