New Film Smears U.S. Military

Accuracy In Media - Media Monitor ^ | AIM

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New Film Smears U.S. Military

By Cliff Kincaid

A film described as "a no-holds-barred account of corrupt, drug-ridden and under-employed American soldiers" is scheduled to be released in the U.S. The Drudge Report says the film, Buffalo Soldiers, is being released by Miramax, part of the Disney Company, which is "set for maximum controversy." A poster for the film shows an American soldier flashing a "V" for victory sign in front of an American flag with dollar signs instead of stars, under the slogan, "Steal All That You Can Steal."

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Drudge puts it this way: "As American men and women put their lives on the line in Iraq and other locations throughout the world, Disney and its subsidiary Miramax have set a July 25 opening for the story of enlisted men running a profitable drugs and stolen goods business out of an Army base."

According to several accounts, Miramax acquired the rights to the film on September 10th, 2001 at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Within 24 hours, after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the studio determined that the climate for releasing the movie had changed. Miramax must have figured that, with the American people uniting behind a military response to the terrorists, it would not be advisable to release a film making fun of the troops preparing to put their lives on the line to protect America. But the war in Iraq came after the war against the terrorism in Afghanistan. American soldiers are facing 10 to 25 attacks a day in Iraq. This doesn't look like a good time to release the film, either.

Nicholas Schager in Slant Magazine.com said it was delayed after 9/11 because "its unflattering portrayal of the American military might be deemed insensitive and unpatriotic," and predicts it will be "unwanted" at this time as well. That certainly appears to be the case. A sympathetic British reviewer described the film this way: "Violence is endemic and drugs rule…

When a tank goes berserk in the village, squashing fruit stalls and a VW Beetle, before causing a gas station to blow up, because everyone inside is wasted on smack, there isn't so much as a reprimand. A couple of soldiers are killed in that incident, news of which is swept under the carpet with everything else." The Miramax web site simply describes the film as a "darkly comic story of one soldier's misadventures in the military." It is rated "R" for violence, drug content, strong language and some sexuality.

Director Gregor Jordan, who is from Australia, says the film is supposed to be funny. But the British reviewer says "Jordan is not taking a satirical swipe at the U.S. military. He's serious." The film is based on a book by the same name by Robert O'Connor, who teaches at an American university. The German producer, Rainer Grupe, obtained the rights to the book back in 1996, and claims that it is a "realistic" picture of the American military presence in Germany.

An Amazon.com review of the book says the main characters are "drug burn-outs" and "uniformed sociopaths." Nevertheless, it was named a Notable Book of 1993 by the New York Times. The Times may like the film, too, but we doubt that many Americans will.

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Cliff Kincaid is the Editor of the AIM Report and can be reached at aimeditor@yahoo.com

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[maestro]

This must be the,..."New civil war",... film preview?

/sarcasm

[Wolverine]

 

Buffalo Soldiers

http://www.hollywood.com/multimedia/detail/media/1709261

Fight against this Hollywood stereotype now

[I still care]

Oh, I love it. I hope they put MILLIONS into this film.

Can anyone say "Pearl Harbor?".

Note to Disney - Hey guys the climate has changed. The 1970's were a long time ago. Or maybe they want to release this along with Michael the liar Moore's new "I hate Bush" film.

Hey, why don't you guys at Disney make it 3 out of 3 and make a movie on the History of NAMBLA or something. Your stock obviously isn't falling fast enough!!!

[Jeff Chandler]

This is going to backfire--big time.

[rickmichaels]

Sounds like something that fat POS Michael Moore would be involved in.

[ex-Texan]

I get my revenge on Disney slowly. One film at a time. Since about 1998 I have seen almost every film they put money into but make it a point not to pay for my viewing. 'Nuff said.

Disney films have gotten steadily worse since the 'Gay Mafia' took over the studio. They are very delusional; they make films to chuckle in the dark over. They make films filled with secret gay jokes. They make films to laugh over at cocktail parties while they are smoking dope (name your poison) with their gay friends. They are self-destructive.

Take my advice: Decide not to pay to see a Disney film ever again. In fact -- just boycott all film projects Disney is associated with. You will feel at lot better for it.

[Trajan88]

I haven't seen Buffalo Soldiers, but from what I've heard it sounds like it doesn't stray far from the theme of Kelly's Heroes which I thought was and still is one of the better WWII films (along with Guns of Navarone, Where Eagles Dare, Heroes of Telemark, etc.).

Trajan88

[webber]

Did you also like "Last Temptations of Christ", and All the Michael Moore's "Documentaries"?

[Pontiac]

sounds like it doesn't stray far from the theme of Kelly's Heroes

Sounds a lot like "Catch 22" to me.

[NewRomeTacitus]

The addictive substance soldiers in Germany had trouble dealing with was EXCELLENT BEER.
Urinalysis programs kept almost everyone on the straight and narrow. The writer and producers are full of the scheissen and are smearing the collective reputations of the cold warriors that served with honor.

[breakem]

My understanding is that this is a comedy. In the tradition of many comedies which have lampooned the military. Do we have to jump everytime Drudge farts?

[Trajan88]

Re: "Did you also like "Last Temptations of Christ", and All the Michael Moore's "Documentaries?"

No. I remember the movies coming out, but had no desire to see them; I would never seen anything remotely linked to Moore nor anything by Polanski or Altman.

I take from your question that because I like old war movies like Kelly's Heroes, Where Eagles Dare, Guns of Navarone, Heroes of Telemark, Von Ryan's Express, Patton, the Great Escape, Stalag 13, etc. that I'm a bad person.

Hmmm. Interesting.

Trajan88; TAMU Class of '88; Law Hall (may it R.I.P.) Ramp 9 Mule; f.u.p.

[eastforker]

Hmm,when I was in germany from 71-73 it was prety bad,rampant drug and alcohol abuse.There was a mini-mafia on our base.If one wanted he could buy drugs on payday stakes,or borrow money at 100% interest.Guys would wind up with broken arms and sometimes legs if they didn't pay.I am sure it is differant now but back then it was prety bad.

[Alouette]

I thought "Buffalo Soldiers" were African-Americans fighting in the Indian wars of the 1870's.

[Hildy]

Kelly's Heroes did not portray the soldiers themselves as drug ridden criminals...just a bit opportunistic. But when it came down to it, they were American Soldiers first.