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DoD controlling Iraq War films? Military hopes to shape genre
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There’s a war going on, and Army Lt. Col. J. Todd Breasseale has a mission.
But it’s far removed from the captured Iraqi palace where he was once stationed. He fights his war now from an office on Wilshire Boulevard lined with movie posters chronicling conflicts real and imagined, from "Patton" to "War of the Worlds."
Breasseale’s desk is piled high with scripts, each marked with his name and stamped "confidential." It’s his job to help decide which movies should get Army help.
The mission is both harder and more important than it might appear.
After the Vietnam War, movies like "Apocalypse Now" and "Born on the Fourth of July" helped cement an image of psychologically damaged Vietnam veterans.
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"In the ’80s and early ’90s, the Vietnam War vet was the ‘other,’ " Breasseale said. "Hollywood had created the crazy Nam vet."
For the Army, it was a bitter lesson.
With the country now enmeshed in another long, unpopular war, Breasseale is hoping to influence a new generation of filmmakers in order to avoid repeating the experience.
So far, Breasseale feels, most of the movies made about Iraq have really been about Vietnam.
"It is the self-licking ice cream cone of Hollywood: They make a war movie based on another war movie," Breasseale said. "It’s important to tell the full story, not a story based on a weird Vietnam-era idea of what the military is like."
The Army has been helping filmmakers ever since it furnished aircraft and pilots for 1927’s "Wings" — winner of the first best picture Academy Award.
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Paul Haggis, writer and director of the Iraq war movie "In the Valley of Elah," said he concluded that the Army was not interested in telling honest stories about the war or soldiers.
"They are trying to put the best spin on what they are doing," Haggis said. "Of course they want to publicize what is good. But it doesn’t mean that it is true."
Few directors focused on Iraq or Afghanistan have approached the military for help. Haggis did.
Haggis said that after he submitted his script, the producers received 21 pages of objections to parts of the film. Haggis, who did not review the notes, said his producers told him they amounted to a refusal to participate.
"We needed their help," Haggis said. "If they had reasonable input I would have taken it. But I am not there to do publicity for the Army. I am there to do a movie that I see as true."
Military officers say flatly that they do not censor films.
"There is no way that we are going to go in and to steamroll anyone’s vision," said Phil Strub, the top Pentagon liaison to the film industry. "They will just tell us to drop dead and go away."
Officials will ask for changes, or decline to participate, if they believe military policies or practices are grossly misrepresented — especially if a movie purports to be based on real-life events, as Haggis’ film did.
Breasseale says movies about Iraq and Afghanistan have been one-dimensional.
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July 8th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
How about an accurate documentary showing the rape, torture and murder at Abu Graib Prison in Iraq. Lets show the American people whats really going on in this hideous, immoral war. One more idea, assign Lt. Col. J. todd Breasseale to combat patrol duty till he gets his ass shot off and save the taxpayers a few dollars. Have a nice day.
July 8th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Admin: “Please note: It takes 30 minutes for posts to show up here. It is not censorship. Quite frankly, we don’t have the time to censor you, as the Secret Service visit to Alex’s office should demonstrate.”
If the Secret Service is visiting that means they are planning on arresting him soon, but still deciding on exactly when, how, and under what pretense.
All hell will break loose.
July 8th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Does anyone really know what went on at Abu Graib? I saw the abuse in pictures but no torture so is there proof of real torture the kind McCain and his buddies went thru or is this just made up accusations? Dale
July 8th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
#3 are you dumb? go read the Taguba report, use google you co-intelpro fool
July 8th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Listen to the commentary on “Alien vs Predator Requiem” where the director talks about how the military turned them down for use of hardware because they felt the film presented the military in a bad light as well as the film explored corporatism came to power as shown in the original film “Alien” where no government is ever mentioned. One state governor offered the use of National Guard hardware as lot as his daughter got a leading role. Of course they turned that down and wound up using hardware from Australia. Definitely an example of the military trying to control the message.
July 8th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
BuLLLshit(3L’s count em’) they don’t edit films…how stupid do they think we are??? SARGE: I hope you’re wrong…it might get ugly if that occurs…then again how compliant would Alex be???
July 8th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Lord of War had to use Russian tanks. Back in the 70s there were 20 studios now there are big six media companies Sony, Viacom, GE, Disney, Warner, or Fox, four are on the CFR and one is a defense contractor. The good news is the smaller companies are growing the market. But all patriots need to make a concerted effort to boycott their movies and music and make stuff from the small guys. Boycotting media is better than boycotting something like gas that you use up because you can retroactively boycott by selling DVDs and CDs.
July 8th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
Statements made by those that did the torturing in the film “Taxi ride to the darkside” for one #3
July 8th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
It may not be a movie, but anyone remember the tv series Dark angel? If not, you really should go see it! In the show America is a fallen world superpower thanks to a terror attack with a nuke (EMP), have a totally corrupt government and lot’s pf people cant pay for their homes and live on the streets in trailers and the like. The cops are tasering and shooting people, and on the take. There is total surveillance with hover drones over the streets. A city divided up in sectors, where the people have to show their sector-pass (national ID?) to go from one sector to another. And a government that is busy creating super soldiers by messing with hybrid DNA. It even features a somewhat future like Alex Jones in the form of an investigative reporter exposing the corrupt system, doing anonymous cable hacks and goes by the name of ‘Eyes only’.The show was canceled after just two seasons… Rumors are (i can’t confirm) that the government was not happy with the way America was being displayed, i guess the truth hurts!?? Well, if so i cant say that i blame them because within a few years it will be exactly like the tv show! Just watch it, it gives you a pretty good look of where were going…
”This has been a streaming freedom message, peace. Out.”
July 8th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
*cough* Stop Loss *cough*
July 8th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
cant remember his name he was a guest on democracy now with amy goodman. he told a story about abu graib that was not only believable but sad at the same time because when it came time for others to stand with him they didnt. last i heard he was working as a security guard at a mall. hopefully since that interview things are looking up for him. reminds me of that saying stand up for what you believe even if you stand alone.
July 8th, 2008 at 10:08 pm
They are definitely brainwashing soldiers. I just had a buddy come back from three years in Bagdad, his first week home, he had all his talking points, together. ” We handed out candy to children”, “It’s not like we just went around and just killed people”. A week later after his reeducation wore off, he was binge drinking and crying about killing women and children. It’s total bullshit what they’re telling us. You can hand out as much candy as you want, when kill their mommy and daddy you got the next generation of freedom fighters. These guys brains are cooked from the heat and the violence. Running off of intravenous hydration solutions, for weeks and months of foot patrols, in 120 degree weather. You can’t think straight under that much stress. Our troops are coming home damaged goods.
July 8th, 2008 at 11:34 pm
Hollywood, magician’s wand, meant to enchant us with fairytales and visions. They lost me long ago, but many sheeple still line up for Feature Events, cash in hand, ready for another sleeping pill and a sweet dream. These days, politicians have better stories than Hollywood, just as much fantasy and bullshit, but with the added exitment and threat that it can all turn REAL at any moment (9-11, Deep Throught). Jack Nicholson- YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH!!!
July 8th, 2008 at 11:38 pm
Good old Hollywood, magician’s wand, meant to enchant us with fairytales and visions. They lost me long ago, but many sheeple still line up for Feature Events, cash in hand, ready for another sleeping pill and a sweet dream. These days, politicians have better stories than Hollywood, just as much fantasy and bullshit, but with the added exitment and threat that it can all turn REAL at any moment (9-11, Deep Throught). Jack Nicholson- YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH!!!
July 9th, 2008 at 7:43 am
It’s funny that you say that, Lugg, considering the true meaning of the word “Hollywood”. The ancient druids found the wood of the Holly tree to be quite effective in channeling “magic” energy.
So there you go…
!DTTNWO!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> X
July 9th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Isn’t a tv series coming out called “killer generation” or something like that!! Where our American soldiers are shown in Afghanistan and Iraq on tv shooting and killing what the producers call “terrorist” when we are invading those innocent nations!!??
July 10th, 2008 at 4:38 am
Out right propaganda perhaps?
July 10th, 2008 at 9:06 am
Citizens, let’s find a way to start an Abolish The Federal Reserve movement. As they long they stay in control, we will remain enslaved.