Body of War


Body of War is a 2007 documentary film about Iraq War veteran Tomas Young. Bill Moyers Journal featured a one-hour special about Body of War including interviews with filmmakers Ellen Spiro and Phil Donahue.

Summary

Shocked by the September 11 attacks Tomas Young wants to defend his country and subsequently he joins the United States Armed Forces. Following his enlistment, he is sent to Iraq but shortly after his arrival there he is maimed by a marksman's bullet. Intercut with his personal story is footage from Congressional proceedings in Washington, D.C. which led to the controversial war.

Accolades

Time assessed the documentary as "superb" and "very moving". The Washington Post considered the documentary well-told, upsetting and "ferocious". The Hollywood Reporter certified "Body of War" as special among other antiwar documentaries for its "identification" with one particular human fate. Moving Pictures agreed the film "secures its strength" by that. The Los Angeles Times described this narrative as a "heartbreaking account" and moreover spoke of a strong indictment of "the tactical politics that led to the invasion". The Boston Globe and The Kansas City Star also called it "heartbreaking". The Toronto Star appreciated protagonist Tomas Young as a "fascinating, charismatic character". The Philadelphia Inquirer stated Young's filmic portrait was a "complex profile in courage". The Austin Chronicle said "Body of War" was "affecting" and a "cinematic argument against the war", and TV Guide described it as a "powerful film".

Media coverage

  • Moyers, Bill. pbs.org/moyers 2008-03-21. Retrieved on 2008-3-29.
  • Zeitchik, Steven. Variety. 2007-7-8. Retrieved on 2007-7-12.
  • Goodman, Amy. Democracy Now. 2008-3-25.
  • Gillette, Felix. The New York Observer. 2007-6-19. Retrieved on 2007-6-25.
  • Donahue, Phil. The Huffington Post. 2007-6-17. Retrieved on 2007-6-25.
  • Kluger, Bruce. USA Today. 2007-10-31.
  • Friedman, Roger. FoxNews.com. 2006-11-27. Retrieved on 2007-6-25.
  • Celizic, Mike. Today. MSNBC.com. 2008-4-1.
  • New York Daily News. 2008-4-5.
  • Silverman, Jason. . Wired.
  • Niles Folsom, Chandra. MediaBistro.com. 2007-6-6. Retrieved on 2007-6-25.
  • Powers, Ann. Los Angeles Times. 2008-4-20.
  • Newman, Laura. Ioncinema.com. 2008-4-18.
  • Priesmeyer, Molly. . Minnesota Monitor. 2008-5-16.
  • Frehsee, Nicole. Rolling Stone. 2008-3-6.

    Soundtrack

The double-CD compilation of songs curated by Iraq war veteran Tomas Young, was released by Sire Records on March 18, 2008 — two days before the fifth anniversary of the United States' invasion of Iraq.
A was created to provide special features and related links.

Track listing

Disc one

  1. Brendan James – "Hero's Song"
  2. Lupe Fiasco – "American Terrorist" – 4:40
  3. Michael Franti & Spearhead – "Light Up Ya Lighter" – 4:57
  4. Rage Against the Machine – "Guerrilla Radio" – 3:26
  5. Public Enemy – "Son of a Bush" – 5:52
  6. Serj Tankian – "Empty Walls" – 3:49
  7. Bad Religion – "Let Them Eat War" – 2:57
  8. Against Me! – "White People for Peace" – 3:33
  9. The Bouncing Souls – "Letter from Iraq" – 2:57
  10. Dilated Peoples – "War"
  11. Rx Bandits – "Overcome " – 3:46
  12. No Use for a Name – "Fields of Agony" – 2:24
  13. Talib Kweli & Cornel West – "Bushonomics"
  14. Immortal Technique – "The 4th Branch" – 5:20
  15. System of a Down – "B.Y.O.B." – 4:17
  16. Eddie Vedder & Ben Harper – "No More"

    Disc two

  17. Bruce Springsteen – "Devils & Dust" – 4:58
  18. Pearl Jam – "Masters of War"
  19. Bright Eyes – "When the President Talks to God" – 2:46
  20. John Lennon – "Gimme Some Truth" – 3:16
  21. Neil Young – "The Restless Consumer"
  22. The Nightwatchman – "Battle Hymns"
  23. Kimya Dawson – "Anthrax"
  24. Blow Up Hollywood – "WMD"
  25. David Ford – "State of the Union"
  26. Tori Amos – "Yo George" – 1:25
  27. Laura Cantrell – "Love Vigilantes"
  28. Ben Harper – "Black Rain"
  29. Roger Waters – "To Kill the Child"
  30. Tom Waits – "Day After Tomorrow"