The Tillman Story

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source: The Tillman Story

In the aftermath of 9/11, Pat Tillman left his NFL career and went to serve in the military, becoming one of the US Army's most famous recruits. When he was accidentally killed by his comrades, the Army and the Bush administration were faced with a choice: tell the truth and face up to the Army's incompetence, or lie repeatedly, covering up that incompetence and turning Tillman's death into a patriotic, flag-waving recruitment tool. The powers that be chose the second option. But they badly misjudged Pat Tillman and his family. Pat had come to disagree with what the US was doing in the Middle East, and had made it clear he didn't want to be turned into a propaganda tool. What's so incredible about this film is that it's less about Pat Tillman himself and more about the injustices the American government is willing to perpetrate against its own people. You think the American military won't lie to you? Think again. You think the American government won't lie to you? Think again. The Tillman family is angry, and they have every right to be. When they discovered the truth about the friendly fire incident, they tried to get the military and the government to admit what they had done. What's even worse than the initial lies is the fact that the subsequent investigations and congressional inquiries, meant to hold those responsible to account, weren't only toothless, they - in effect - colluded with the higher-ups in order to protect them. The Donald Rumsfelds of this world were immune, while a retired 3-star general got thrown to the wolves instead. This film is a damning indictment of America's military and its government. When a soldier dies serving their country, the very least their memory and their family deserves is the truth. If a government is unwilling to provide that, choosing instead to manufacture an easily digestible narrative the public will lap up, something is very, very wrong.

Pat Tillman was an all-star college football player and an all-star pro football player. But the events of 9/11 had a deep personal impact on him, realizing that everyone needs to do their part in assuring freedom, he gave up $$Millions to enlist in the Army. He was killed, as it turned out, by "friendly fire", his own men as he climbed a ridge to see if he could spot enemies. That in itself is tragic, but what followed was an even greater tragedy. The true facts of the incident were covered up, most likely all the way to President Bush and V.P. Cheyney, and all the military commanders between Tillman and the office of POTUS. Instead of simply telling the truth, a story was fabricated that a Taliban ambush was responsible for Tillman's death. This story went to the memorial ceremony for Tillman. He was hailed as a hero for protecting his men. Only with a very persistent investigation by Tillman's mother, plus a scathing letter from Tillman's father to the government, got close to the truth. Why did the military and the Bush administration lie? Because the various Bush-promoted conflicts were unpopular, and they didn't need for it to get even more unpopular, so a story was fabricated ostensibly for political gain. With real footage of Tillman, and real footage of news reports and congressional hearings, it is an eye-opener as a glimpse into how the system can so easily cover up the truth.

Before seeing this documentary i had never heard of Pat Tillman. Tillman was the all American hero . A pro American football player who gave up his million dollar contract to fight for his country. The problem was that things are never always that simple in The United States. One day while out on patrol , Tillman and his group came under fire and he was shot in the head and killed. The family was that they had a fire fight with Afghan soldiers and that was how Pat had lost his life but it didn't take long to find out the the military were lying. Tillman had been killed by friendly fire. Lets face it it's no surprise that the military and the US government covered this up. They are both institutions that are rotten to the core. What is so amazing is how nonchalant these people are about this cover up and that the cover up went all the way to the top . The film has interviews with the family and his friends and it shows the amazing length this brave family went to get justice. It shows real footage of the memorial service for Tillman and the wonderfully honest speech his younger brother gave. If i had one criticism it would be that the documentary is not confrontational enough but i suppose when your dealing with corrupt weasels like Donald Rumsfeld you have to be a bit cautious.

Sitting down to write about the "The Tillman Story" makes me recall the same emotions that the movie evokes, and frustration is at the forefront. I want to start by writing about the premise, the story of an intelligent young man who was a successful football player, who ended up dying while fighting in war. But that is exactly what Pat Tillman, the late protagonist, wouldn't want. In addition, Pat Tillman was the only thing the country was talking about for several months in 2004. And then I want to extol the artistic merits of the story-telling in this movie, and how it carefully peels away at the truth behind his death. But ultimately the film-making qualities aren't what make this movie worth seeing. After that, I want to explain why "The Tillman Story" is simultaneously wonderful and terrible… wonderful in that it shines light on a shadow that deserves to be exposed, but terrible for how the viewer feels after seeing what was there. It is not the movie itself that is terrible, but instead how the story makes you feel after seeing it. But these descriptions are better left for the movie to tell. "The Tillman Story" is worth seeing, and even more so if you are an American. It provides glimpses into the US military complex and it's mechanisms of self preservation. It details a family's experience with the death of one of their own. It will give you a mix of reactions and emotions, with no real final answer to the issues at stake. If you are looking for a light-hearted romp, or a documentary about the latest easy-going topic-du-jour, "The Tillman Story" isn't the right place to start. I rated this movie 5/5 stars because director Amir Bar-Lev succeeds on all counts .

I have to admit that I thought Pat was going to be that jock that I've grown up to despise. The meat head, all muscle and loud but of course thats not what he was and when you are introduced to his family in this film you see he is from the best stock. Someone earlier in one of the reviews said the family where what real American families where all about and this resonated with me. I grew up in Dublin and was brought up to believe the Americans were the good guys and you know what I thought they where too. Unfortunately over the last number of years, preceding the war in Iraq and most probably starting with Vietnam I've started to have my doubts about the direction this once cherished country of mine was taking, I started to see through its lies and listen to the tiny minority of people who where being drowned out by the media and the politicians and the Army. The Tillmans are just another causality in this long list of brave people standing up for what they believe is right and what happened with their son as being wrong. This is another story that all Americans and people from other countries should be made watch. This is the truth trickling out from behind the bull that we are fed through our TVs by a complicit media. There is something seriously rotten at the core of Western Govts and the more people that are aware of this the quicker we can deal it.

Quite extraordinary documentary dealing with the emotional and intellectual issues around Pat Tillman's death in Afghanistan and subsequent Army cover-up. A film of insight, humanity, and righteous anger, but it never feels manipulative of the people or facts involved. Like Tillman himself, it avoids simplistic answers and tries to look deeper. This isn't a propaganda piece, but a complex study of a family's grief, and how powerful organizations like the Army sometimes put their own image ahead of human honesty and decency. Tillman himself emerges as a highly complex man – someone who didn't go off to war looking for glory, and indeed, tried actively just to be treated like any other soldier – a desire the Army refused to honor, even in death (Tillman had specifically, in writing. requested not to have a military funeral should he die in war, but the Army tried to bulldoze the family into one for PR purposes). He believed the Afghanistan war was a righteous cause, but politically disagreed with the decision to go to war with Iraq, while fighting with honor and distinction. He was an atheist who respected and was curious about all religions, and whose public memorial was co-opted by public figures invoking the name of God, until finally his little brother – in an act of slightly drunken bravery - stood up to tell them all that wasn't who Pat was. His family emerge as heroes of another kind, working tirelessly to discover the truth of what really happened to their son and why,all the while fighting an Army and political establishment that just wanted them to stand there mute, and look sad and grateful for the cameras. Amir Bar-Lev is emerging as one of our best documentary filmmakers, and I'd urge you to also check out his earlier work "My Kid Could Paint That" and "Fighter".

It is real story of an American soldier who was killed in a friendly fire by his own fellow soldiers wrongfully. Tillman was a top football player but wanted to serve for his country than earning money.He became National hero after his death.This kind of documentary production is possible only in country like America since many countries don't allow to reveal any of the facts stating the countries security as main reason.The Army initially announce the death was due to exchange of fire between Afghan and American but his parents collapse when they get a letter from an anonymous reporter about the killing of his son by his own fellow soldiers.His parents take up the case to US congress .During cross examination the higher ranking officers including Generals too try to cover up the facts and simply get away from the case.Late President Jhon f Kennedy was right -Never look back what your country has done to you.

and even though people might be moved and/or outraged, it's not like that ever stopped what moves the human animal to do this sort of stuff. people here at IMDb have already written something to the effect that there is truth and then there's the government's truth. that's been true not only of the US govt, but pretty much all govts, when looked at from a certain perspective. and, yes. the US govt is no exception...in fact, it may set new standards in the atrocity cover up dept. but i'll leave that as a response to other documentaries... if you'd like a better idea of what the US govt has done since its inception, i'd advise reading howard zinn's 'a people's history of the united states'. it's a real eye opener. i don't usually like history(maybe b/c, even as a child, i intuited the lies being told), but this book was one of the best(of any genre)i've ever read. and, yes, it's 'biased'. what piece of information ever passed on isn't? but you can decide for yourself how much of it feels truthful. esp in light of America's actions these days. what one needs to understand, basically, is that alpha animals are willing to do whatever it takes to stay alphas. anything it takes includes a lot of things we, generally, consider immoral. but it's 'business as usual'. and the need to control that business/investment. it's done, as i said, worldwide. large companies not only have a large influence on policy making, they, pretty much, dictate policy making. AND, their leaders, as recently seen with wall street and investment bankers, are beyond/above the law. like it or not they ARE the law. i would imagine an effective protest might be to withhold taxes, if large groups of people did so... good luck to those of you with consciences who want to make humane changes. i say this without a bit of sarcasm or failure prejudice implied.