Soldier disappointed with his portrayal by Hollywood
Old Soldier sends us a link about Sgt. Jeffrey Sarver, the soldier who was supposed to be the model for the main character in the movie “Hurt Locker”;
Days before the 2010 Academy Awards, Sarver sued the makers of “The Hurt Locker,” including director Kathryn Bigelow and screenwriter Mark Boal.
Boal profiled Sarver in a story for Playboy magazine.
Sarver’s filing states some of the film’s scenes contradict proper actions, and fellow service members have questioned his abilities since the movie’s release.
Let me see, here. You lent yourself to a movie, got paid, did interviews with Hollywood assholes. And now you’re unhappy with the way your fellow soldiers treat you. What, you didn’t see that SCUD coming?
Who knew that Hollywood would take liberties for the story and make a soldier look incompetent? At least Sarver got paid, not like the generations of soldiers who were maligned over the decades with no recompense.
Category: Military issues
Its a real shame. Hollywood used to be patriotic. Then it lost its own head up its fourth point of contact.
I find it a little hard to believe people would question his abilities based on how they were portrayed in a movie. If that is the case we all are basket cases like the cast of “Stripes”, which I know many Americans think is a documentary and not a work of fiction.
A shrug of the shoulders and a response of “That’s Hollywood” should be all that is necessary. If he wants to get upset, get upset over the way in which military members are always portrayed in such stereotypical cliches.
“like the cast of “Stripes”, which I know many Americans think is a documentary “. Not to mention, “Private Benjamin”, which falls in the same category.
A little O/T, but speaking of military-featuring movies, anyone seen Battle: Los Angeles, yet? Is it as good, in terms of portrayal of the Marines, as some folks are saying?
EOD does not regularly train on the tasks associated with disposing of explosive ordnance? There is no practical way for the sergeant’s reputation to remain one that creates confidence?
Work with a former EOD commander, who thought the movie a little out there, but understood that telling a story sometimes differs from living life.
Doc Bailey,
“Hollywood used to be patriotic” well according to HP all of Hollywood is just a giant propaganda machine for the U.S. Military anyway.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-sirota/how-your-taxpayer-dollars_b_836574.html
Considering how few in Hollywood have actually served, it’s hardly any wonder they take what those who HAVE been there told them and fuck it up like a soup sandwich.
Submariner case in point–Crimson Tide–widely regarded by us bubbleheads as one of the WORST submarine movies ever made (up there with “The Fifth Missile”, “U571”, and “K19”), was so horrifically inaccurate and during the “Siskel and Ebert” review, the one thing a boat COULD do, they slammed as being “unrealistic”. GMAFB!
It’s a good thing they don’t make many boat movies. Easier to avoid.
Maybe I’m splitting hairs here…”The Hurt Locker” was not a documentary. Hollywood produces art; it swings between fairly real to really fictional, and anyone who thinks they will allow reality to stand in the way of a blockbuster flick isn’t paying attention. The only reason — listen closely now, the ONLY reason — Hollywood bothers with the military in a movie at all is because they do ‘splodey, and ‘splodey sells tickets. That’s it. If you think they give a rats left hind leg ABOUT the military…well, let’s just say that “Silence of the Lambs” wasn’t meant to showcase psychiatry as a medical specialty, either.
So what are your thoughts on “Taking Chance”?
@ #9
So what are your thoughts on “Taking Chance”? was an HBO documentary movie…”The Hurt Locker” is pure theatrical movie with added “you ain’t going to believe this shit, but” for entertainment value. Maybe the better question is, how do you feel about “We Were Soldiers”?
And for SGT. Sarver. Embrace the suck, pull down a couple beers and chalk it up as a learning experience. Don’t idley spend the money you were paid in one shot and get over yourself.