tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post6459540416614033310..comments2024-01-30T04:32:47.585-05:00Comments on The Cooler: Fighting for Truth: The Tillman StoryJason Bellamyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18150199580478147196noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post-16710607497737775322010-09-10T09:14:10.480-04:002010-09-10T09:14:10.480-04:00Sheila: If you get Rage-Boy over the initial cover...Sheila: If you get Rage-Boy over the initial coverage of Lynch, you'll go to another level over the coverage of her "rescue," which is another thing touched on in this film (and Krakauer's book).<br /><br />I could ramble forever about this, but I'll be unusually brief: the media's coverage of our military's post-9/11 engagements has disheartened me more than the events themselves (because I take the latter as somewhat unavoidable).Jason Bellamyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18150199580478147196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post-40076861173817240132010-09-10T08:49:25.625-04:002010-09-10T08:49:25.625-04:00Jason - I have not read the Krakauer book (it'...Jason - I have not read the Krakauer book (it's the only one of his I haven't read yet) - as I mentioned, I've been following this story since it originally went down, and have talked to my friends in Iraq about it - and it's a hot topic, very explosive. It upsets everyone. <br /><br />There's an aspect to the whole thing that is about Narrative, its uses and misuses - something that has obsessed me for a while. How are stories used? How is Narrative important - and even more important during a war? I am thinking of the Jessica Lynch story, which, from the getgo, struck me as a Rambo fantasy of "who we are" and "how we fight", as opposed to anything that might really have happened. Isn't what happened to her bad enough? But the quickly-spreading Narrative of her blasting her way through her captors with gunfire caught on - This is clearly nothing new. Leaders have always used Narrative in this way, a way to either cover up the real story, or to get people on board with what we are doing. <br /><br />It was amazing how normally intelligent people leapt onto the Jessica Lynch bandwagon - and in my opinion it was a disrespect to what had actually happened. She was injured and terrified - but the Narrative set her up as a hero - and so then she has to deal with the fallout of being a "disappointment". That's what makes me into a Rage-Boy. Nobody who is fighting a war should have to deal with that.<br /><br />Not to mention people like Tillman's family - who have had to struggle to get the story of what actually happened. <br /><br />I am definitely going to see this. Thanks again for your review.Sheila O'Malleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05859697259996394827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post-29035932544528305192010-09-09T07:45:32.356-04:002010-09-09T07:45:32.356-04:00Sorry for the delayed replies here ...
Sheila: It...Sorry for the delayed replies here ...<br /><br />Sheila: It's definitely worth seeing, and I'd be particularly interested to hear your reaction once you do, assuming you haven't read the in-depth pieces by Smith and Krakauer. It's a moving and rage-inspiring film, but I suspect the effect might be even greater on someone who isn't so familiar with many of the details.<br /><br />Hokahey: Thanks. I appreciate that. With the "30 for 30" series and my general fondness for docs, I seem to be writing about them all the time now. It's been an interesting exercise.Jason Bellamyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18150199580478147196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post-59031944728548639152010-09-06T20:29:06.251-04:002010-09-06T20:29:06.251-04:00Well done. You have a special talent for analyzing...Well done. You have a special talent for analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of a documentary. You have a keen perception for the many shades of the truth that a non-fiction film sets out to document.Richard Bellamyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12397053921647421425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163321594858726822.post-34304434752281250712010-09-06T17:19:21.614-04:002010-09-06T17:19:21.614-04:00Jason - I have not seen this yet, but I find this ...Jason - I have not seen this yet, but I find this entire entry so moving. I have been following the Tillman story on my own, and it has been frustrating and enraging, especially since the guy himself seemed like such a class act. I have friends over there in Iraq, and one of my cousins, too, and it has been equally as upsetting for them, watching this unfold. <br /><br />It sounds like a good piece of investigative journalism, an important documentary. I look forward to seeing it, although it's going to push all of my Rage-Boy buttons. I'm a girl, but I certainly have Rage-Boy potential.<br /><br />Thanks for this, and this entire series.Sheila O'Malleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05859697259996394827noreply@blogger.com