Gunner Palace Review
By Chris Dobens
Gunner Palace
"Gunner Palace" is a documentary about soldiers fighting in Iraq. It isn't some docu-farce or the kind of zealous flag-waving regularly orchestrated by Fox News. And it's well beyond one of those weeping morning show segments about the hardships and the emails home. "Gunner Palace" is an unabridged look at the life of US soldiers in Baghdad, in their own words and images as opposed to those of a reporter trying to sell a story.
Small-time actor Michael Tucker ("The Purple Rose of Cairo" and "D2: The Mighty Ducks") slips behind the lens as he takes up with the 2/3 Field Artillery in Baghdad. They are known as "The Gunners" because of their primary mission: artillery support. The other half of the film's title comes from where they are based in Baghdad: one of Uday's palaces.
Tucker gets behind the camera and stays there, letting the boys be boys. And these particular boys prove to be such an entertaining cast of characters that it's almost hard to believe the whole thing isn't staged.
There is plenty of action in "Gunner Palace". The group heads out on patrol, encountering IEDs and the occasional sniper. And Tucker goes along with them, tucked away in the back of a Humvee (fortunately for him, it's one of the armored ones). The film gives you a real taste of what life is like for American soldiers in Baghdad: a vast desert of boredom with the occasional oasis of sheer terror.
But it's the drudgery, not the action, that is really the star of "Gunner Palace". One kid - the epitome of a suburban "cracker" (and I say that with the sincerest affection) - reminded me a lot of Trey Parker (the more obnoxious half of the "South Park" creative team). Not only is he from Colorado like Parker, but he also has a similar appearance and mannerisms. Unlike Parker, though, he seemed to have no idea just how funny he was being. And he plays a mean little guitar.
The unit had a number of amateur rappers as well, and they were more than willing to put on a show for the camera. This, combined with the kid from Colorado, gives the film a makeshift soundtrack. Music by soldiers for soldiers - the Baghdad beat.
On one hand, this documentary is an interesting study in what kids will do when given guns instead of Gameboys. Some become heroes. Others become monsters. But "Gunner Palace" is really about the rest, the majority of soldiers who serve their time without much fanfare or distinction. Many consider them heroes just for showing up, but this film humanizes them and tells their story in a way that is rarely seen.
Unfortunately, like most documentaries, this one didn't get beyond the usual art houses. And if you believe what the conservative media says about the liberal media, then one can assume that the bulk of people who saw Gunner Palace where those who did not support our unjustified and untimely invasion of Iraq.
Unlike the soldiers of the Gulf War, the ones featured in this film are not an army in action. They are in an army of occupation - something we haven't seen since Vietnam. And anyone who studied that conflict will find "boo-coo" similarities with Iraq. At its heart, "Gunner Palace" is a documentary about a handful of confused kids who are simply biding their time in a place they don't want to be until they can go home and do the things they'd rather be doing - which is anything but driving around Iraq, waiting for the next IED to go off.
You should go see "Gunner Palace" because it's important - regardless of how you feel about the war - and probably far more important than most of the stuff going on in your life. And if that's not reason enough, the word "fuck" is used no fewer than 42 times during the film. Apparently that's a record for a PG-13 flick.
