Gunner Palace (2004)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Directors:

Petra Epperlein
Michael Tucker

Release Date:

4 March 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary | War

Tagline:

Some war stories will never make the nightly news.

Plot:

American soldiers of the 2/3 Field Artillery, a group known as the "Gunners," tell of their experiences in Baghdad during the Iraq War. Holed up in a bombed out pleasure palace built by Sadaam Hussein, the soldiers endured hostile situations some four months after President George W. Bush declared the end of major combat operations in the country. |

Plot Keywords:

Iraq War | Palace | Iraq | Army | Gulf War

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Bryant Davis	...	Himself
Devon Dixon	...	Himself
Javorn Drummond	...	Himself
Elliot Lovett	...	Himself
Nick Moncrief	...	Himself
Jon Powers	...	Himself
Richmond Shaw	...	Himself
Terry Taylor	...	Himself
Stuart Wilf	...	Himself

Directed by
Petra Epperlein
Michael Tucker

Produced by
Petra Epperlein	....	producer

Original Music by
Robert Cimino

Cinematography by
Michael Tucker

Film Editing by
Petra Epperlein
Michael Tucker

Art Direction by
James David Goldmark

Sound Department
Chris Müller	....	sound mixer
Michael Tucker	....	sound

Music Department
Robert Cimino	....	musician: freestyle beats
Heinrich Kreyenberg	....	musician: piano
Stuart Wilf	....	musician: guitar

Other crew
Winston Emano	....	publicist
David Magdael	....	publicist
Steven Wallace	....	publicist: David Magdael & Associates

Production Companies

• Nomados

Distributors

• Palm Pictures (2005) (USA) (theatrical)
• Palm Pictures (2005) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• David Magdael and Associates  publicity
• Fidelis, Matt & Dean  security
• Studio Babelsberg  sound mix

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 on appeal for strong language throughout, violent situations and some drug references.

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:M18 | Canada:14A | USA:PG-13 (re-rating on appeal) | USA:R (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Baghdad, Iraq

Company:

Nomados

Trivia:

The word "fuck" is used 42 times, the most ever used in a PG-13 rated film

Quotes:

SPC Devon Dixon: I couldn't sleep for a while, you know, the first time I ever had to kill somebody, so I know for me ... you know, it tore me up pretty bad. But after a while, you know, I learned to deal with it, 'case you gotta look at it as, you know, it's either gonna be him or it's gonna be me, and, you know, I'm not doin' the wrong thing, I'm just following orders, so I'd rather it not be me. So, I had to, you know, I learned to live with it.

Movie Connections:

Featured in This Film Is Not Yet Rated (2006)

A Must See

This is one of the greatest documentaries ever made. It deals with the young men and women who are overseas in Iraq fighting the ongoing war on terrorism. It's not about violence, or hatred, or glory; just about truth. A lot of movies and documentaries give the impression of the director; this film lets the soldiers do the talking. It concentrates on the 2/3 Field Artillery Unit or the 1st Armored Division, stationed in Giessen, Germany, also known as the 'Gunners'. This unit spent close to a year an a half stationed in Iraq, most of which was spent living in Uday Hussein's palace, renamed Gunner Palace. It takes you through the daily life and routine of an American soldier fighting in Iraq. It deals not only with the military aspect of their days and nights, but also with their down time, and how soldiers cope with the realities of war. It's a very emotional documentary that shows what these good men and women serving our country are truly like. Keep tabs on this movie, when it comes out it's going to snowball into something huge. On a side note, the soundtrack was provided by the soldier's themselves; a majority of which is given through freestyle rap; a common way for many of the soldiers to express their inner most emotions. If a soundtrack accompanies the movie… it to will be a must buy.