The Tillman Story is a very well shot and constructed documentary if not intentionally one-sided to represent the untold Tillman family's side of tragedy. It's most likely rated R for the Tillman family's loved use of the F word. The documentary provides insight into their anguish from not only the loss of their son and brother, but also from the government and military's manipulation of the facts that make his death even more disturbing. I'd read of Pat's death due to friendly fire, but was never lead to a clear understanding of just how blatant the friendly fire was. This was not a true fire fight in which an arrant round hit an unintended target. The movie depicts the incident as much more deliberate. There should be a greater indictment of the press for their failure to truly investigate things and clearly describe what actually happened. They have become so unprofessional these days that they simply serve as parrots of information feed to them by "officials". Unfortunate considering information in today's world is probably more easily obtained then it was for reporters decades ago.
Pat was a private, principal-driven man. You gain as much as sense of who Pat really was as the family is willing to divulge. And the public image of him as a hero is tempered by the family's belief in the reality that Pat should not have been given the Silver Star. As his brother says, Pat was an olympian for serving, as are all who serve, but the government's decision to issue the Silver Star is addressed in the movie as a cheapening of the "hero" label it provides those who actually earn it. More revealing is the movie's depiction of the willing incompetence of the U.S. government. The Congressional committee hosting the investigative hearing demonstrates the back- slapping, could-care-less-about-the-people attitude of the Representatives who Tillman's family counted on to "represent" them against obvious government abuses. In the face of testimony from all the military brass that were unwilling to take responsibility, the Congressional committee simply brushes it off as "you've done your best, right?" The message is clear - the people are not really represented by any branch of the government. The "insiders" all cooperate to cover one another. And apparently even Pat's star status was not enough to upset this system.
Pat's mother worked for 2.5 years everyday making calls and the government did not respond. Only when Pat's dad, a lawyer, wrote a letter on letterhead identifing him as an attorney that the government took notice and did something. This "lawyer bias" was never addressed in the movie, and I question whether the family makes the connection. Pat's brother apparently doesn't because he thinks it was because his dad told them to F**** themselves, and commented his mom could have done this years ago if that was what was needed to raise attention. Nope. It was because dad was a lawyer. (Personally, I would have liked to see Pat's dad cross examine the Generals.) The members of Congress did such a poor job, there seemed to be no reason for the hearing other than to place the Tillman family's grievances on the record as yet another appeasement tactic.
In it's category as a documentary, I think this movie scores well, but falls short of investigating areas of this case that were never touched upon. It leaves open the question of what the Tillman family may have pursued in the civil courts to gain some justice and does not recognize the government's penchant for catering to the demands of people identified as lawyers. It seemed odd that the focus in questioning the generals was about when they knew it was friendly fire rather than about punishment of the soldiers responsible for Pat's death. Where was the military court trial? It seemed the Tillmans were more angered by when people knew than by what they knew, and that disconnect was left unexplained. The very system Pat was fighting for is broken and in need of repair. Perhaps the people would have real representation with term limits that would eliminate career politicians who are more inclined to cover their fellow government officials. Just a thought.
Rest in peace, Pat. Your men know what really happened, and those responsible have to live with your death. I feel for your family and wife. What a shame to lose Pat Tillman. Even more of a shame how things were handled after his murder.
Having said all this, understand I support those who serve. Clearly there was criminal activity here that should have been addressed in a military court and was not in part because of who Pat was prior to joining. At every turn, his fame seemed to work against him being treated as he wished.
While the film was good, it left holes in the story that I think would complete the whole picture. I'd recommend watching it, if for no other reason than to gain a clear understanding of the real Pat Tillman, not the made-for-American-Consumption Pat Tillman.
Pat was a private, principal-driven man. You gain as much as sense of who Pat really was as the family is willing to divulge. And the public image of him as a hero is tempered by the family's belief in the reality that Pat should not have been given the Silver Star. As his brother says, Pat was an olympian for serving, as are all who serve, but the government's decision to issue the Silver Star is addressed in the movie as a cheapening of the "hero" label it provides those who actually earn it. More revealing is the movie's depiction of the willing incompetence of the U.S. government. The Congressional committee hosting the investigative hearing demonstrates the back- slapping, could-care-less-about-the-people attitude of the Representatives who Tillman's family counted on to "represent" them against obvious government abuses. In the face of testimony from all the military brass that were unwilling to take responsibility, the Congressional committee simply brushes it off as "you've done your best, right?" The message is clear - the people are not really represented by any branch of the government. The "insiders" all cooperate to cover one another. And apparently even Pat's star status was not enough to upset this system.
Pat's mother worked for 2.5 years everyday making calls and the government did not respond. Only when Pat's dad, a lawyer, wrote a letter on letterhead identifing him as an attorney that the government took notice and did something. This "lawyer bias" was never addressed in the movie, and I question whether the family makes the connection. Pat's brother apparently doesn't because he thinks it was because his dad told them to F**** themselves, and commented his mom could have done this years ago if that was what was needed to raise attention. Nope. It was because dad was a lawyer. (Personally, I would have liked to see Pat's dad cross examine the Generals.) The members of Congress did such a poor job, there seemed to be no reason for the hearing other than to place the Tillman family's grievances on the record as yet another appeasement tactic.
In it's category as a documentary, I think this movie scores well, but falls short of investigating areas of this case that were never touched upon. It leaves open the question of what the Tillman family may have pursued in the civil courts to gain some justice and does not recognize the government's penchant for catering to the demands of people identified as lawyers. It seemed odd that the focus in questioning the generals was about when they knew it was friendly fire rather than about punishment of the soldiers responsible for Pat's death. Where was the military court trial? It seemed the Tillmans were more angered by when people knew than by what they knew, and that disconnect was left unexplained. The very system Pat was fighting for is broken and in need of repair. Perhaps the people would have real representation with term limits that would eliminate career politicians who are more inclined to cover their fellow government officials. Just a thought.
Rest in peace, Pat. Your men know what really happened, and those responsible have to live with your death. I feel for your family and wife. What a shame to lose Pat Tillman. Even more of a shame how things were handled after his murder.
Having said all this, understand I support those who serve. Clearly there was criminal activity here that should have been addressed in a military court and was not in part because of who Pat was prior to joining. At every turn, his fame seemed to work against him being treated as he wished.
While the film was good, it left holes in the story that I think would complete the whole picture. I'd recommend watching it, if for no other reason than to gain a clear understanding of the real Pat Tillman, not the made-for-American-Consumption Pat Tillman.