Gunner Palace (2005)
83%RT Audience Score:
Awards & Nominations: 1 nomination
Gunner Palace is a cinematic masterpiece that captures the essence of war without taking a political stance. Michael Tucker and Petra Epperlein’s documentary is a throwback to the cinema verite style of pioneering documentarians, and it is a powerful film that goes beyond the casualty statistics and minute-long news clips to provide a sense of what it must be like for the soldiers stationed in Iraq. The film captures the fear and outrage of those Iraqis unfortunate enough to fall into the hands of US forces, and every moment is fraught with the potential for violence. Tucker’s bravery in documenting the tedium of the place and the work, the banal dangers of an occupation where the enemy could be anyone, is commendable. However, one may occasionally feel the urge to ask him to be quiet. Overall, Gunner Palace is a must-watch for anyone who wants to understand the reality of war.
Gunner Palace is like a rollercoaster ride, but instead of loops and drops, it’s filled with the potential for violence at every turn. The documentary takes you on a journey through the eyes of U.S. soldiers stationed in Iraq, and it’s not for the faint of heart. Michael Tucker and Petra Epperlein do an excellent job of capturing the tedium and banal dangers of war, but you might find yourself wanting to tell Tucker to be quiet every once in a while. Overall, Gunner Palace is a powerful film that provides a glimpse into the lives of those who serve our country, and it’s definitely worth a watch.
Production Company(ies)
Warner Bros., Chenault Productions,
Distributor
Palm Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Baghdad, Iraq
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 on appeal for strong language throughout, violent situations and some drug references
Year of Release
2004
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 25m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Mar 4, 2005 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 28, 2005
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
Gunner Palace, documentary, Iraq War, soldiers, American troops, 2/3 Field Artillery unit, The Gunners, Baghdad, Uday Hussein, Saddam Hussein’s son, patrols, raids, suspicious packages, PG-13, some drug references, violent situations, strong language throughout, directed by Petra Epperlein, Michael Tucker, produced by Petra Epperlein, written by N/A, starring N/A, box office gross $607.5K, budget N/A, reviewed by David Ansen, Nell Minow, Peter Howell, Bill Muller, Terry Lawson, Roger Moore, David Walsh, Mark Halverson, Jason Gorber, Dennis Schwartz, Rory L Aronsky, Marty Mapes, genre: war, MPAA rating: PG-13, distributor: Palm Pictures, original language: English, original release date: March 4, 2005, streaming release date: June 28, 2005, runtime: 1h 25m, producer: Petra Epperlein, music by Robert Cimino, cinematography by Michael Tucker, film editing by Petra Epperlein
Worldwide gross: $607,844
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $958,866
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,607
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 104,566
US/Canada gross: $607,844
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $958,866
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,198
US/Canada opening weekend: $63,520
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $100,202
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,932
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Michael Tucker – Director
Petra Epperlein – Producer
Robert Cimino – Original Music
Michael Tucker – Cinematographer
Petra Epperlein – Film Editing
Director(s)
Petra Epperlein, Michael Tucker
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
Petra Epperlein
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
1 nomination
Academy Awards
All Critics (106) | Top Critics (39) | Fresh (90) | Rotten (16)
Gunner Palace isn’t a particularly violent movie…but every moment is fraught with the potential for violence.
March 13, 2018
David Ansen
Newsweek
TOP CRITIC
February 18, 2012 | Rating: A-
Nell Minow
Movie Mom
TOP CRITIC
Tucker takes it all in without taking a stand, though his sympathies — expressed through voiceover narration — clearly lie with the men and women in the field.
April 15, 2005 | Rating: 3.5/4
Peter Howell
Toronto Star
TOP CRITIC
You certainly can’t question Tucker’s bravery, but you may occasionally feel the urge to ask him to be quiet.
April 7, 2005 | Rating: 3/5
Bill Muller
Arizona Republic
TOP CRITIC
While Gunner Palace has the immediacy of street rap, it is actually a throwback to the cinema verite style of pioneering documentarians D.A. Pennebaker, Albert Maysles and Frederick Wiseman.
March 25, 2005 | Rating: 3/4
Terry Lawson
Detroit Free Press
TOP CRITIC
But they’re very good at documenting the tedium of the place and the work, the banal dangers of an occupation where the enemy could be anyone.
March 25, 2005 | Rating: 4/5
Roger Moore
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
The film captures the fear and outrage of those Iraqis unfortunate enough to fall into the hands of US forces.
February 15, 2021
David Walsh
World Socialist Web Site
August 7, 2008 | Rating: 4/5
Mark Halverson
Sacramento News & Review
A powerful film, going beyond the casualty statistics and minute-long news clips to provide a sense of what it must be like for the guys and girls over there.
June 21, 2007 | Rating: B
Jason Gorber
Film Scouts
A rambling war documentary without a political agenda about U.S. soldiers of the 2/3 Field Artillery stationed in Iraq.
July 13, 2005 | Rating: B
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews
Michael Tucker and Petra Epperlein know that now is the time to make sure people know what the Iraqi War looks like and hopefully they will.
July 12, 2005 | Rating: 4/5
Rory L. Aronsky
Film Threat
A commendably apolitical visit to the soldiers in Iraq
July 8, 2005 | Rating: 3/4
Marty Mapes
Movie Habit…
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.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels doesn’t have anything goofy or funny to say about Gunner Palace, but they do mention that the film follows the lives of American troops in Iraq as they patrol the city and live in what used to be Uday Hussein’s palace.
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