David “Hollywood” Bellavia
I’m sure you’ve read the book House to House written by our buddy David Bellavia, who is also running for Congress in Upstate New York. Well, according to Buffalo News, he’s also going Hollywood on us, too.
The Republican congressional candidate from Batavia has just signed a film deal with an Oscar-winning director to tell the story of winning the Silver Star during the intense battle for Fallujah in 2004.
Bellavia thinks the time has arrived for the nation to reflect on the controversial and deadly conflict.
“It seems that every Iraq movie has been poorly received because the war was so fresh,” he said. “But with bin Laden’s death, we start to see where people are into positive stories.”
Yeah, I was blown away by the book and by the fact that blogging has put me in contact with people like David. I have faith in Bellavia that this will be a movie worth watching. According to the Buffalo News article, the movie won’t be out for at least two more years, but it ought to be well-worth the wait.
For those of you looking for a book to read, the guy who wrote House to House with David, John Bruning, also co-wrote the new book “Outlaw Platoon” – and it’s on par with Bellavia’s book. I’ve had conversations with Bruning and he truly supports the troops even though he hasn’t served himself. I’m in the middle of Outlaw Platoon, and it’s so hard to put down – read it.
Category: Terror War, Veterans in politics, War Stories
I think the reason why most of the movies about Iraq haven’t had a great reception have been because they haven’t shown soldiers in a positive light.
Look at Act of Valor…shows SEALs kicking ass in a positive light and rakes in dough. Citics hate it public loves it makes tons of money. I wonder what a good movie like one done with David “Hollywood” Bellavia would do?
Btw at least he didn’t have to kiss maaattt daaammmooonn’s ass to get in his movie.
Just so long as he doesn’t hire some schmuck (director) who wants to make a ‘Call of Duty type’ of movie. I KNOW “Thunder Run” is going to be a huge flop. I know it!
Fallujah needs to be told, as does the entire war. I think stylistically if you want it done right, you find a studio to give Ridley Scott however much money he needs and tell him “make it a gritty, no-love story, no bullshit War Movie, like you did with Black Hawk Down, only use stories from OP Phantom Fury (Fallujah 2004) this time around” Have him get the same production team, and film it in Jordan (security permitting) which can double as Fallujah.
THAT’s how you do justice to an Iraq War movie.
Oh and don’t cast a bunch of Hollywood elites, because it will FAIL disastrously if you cast “who’s hot now” stars.
I hope the movie will do the book justice, one of the best Iraq war books I’ve read.
I read the book during our movement to Afgahnistan after listening to endless David Bellavia stories from TSO. Its the Forgotten Soldier of the Iraqi genre. I also learned you can clear a block with a MICLIC…..
Great news… Only met him a coupla times, but I liked him straightaway.
If the book is even remotely true, seems like it should’ve been a higher award than the SS.
Headhunter, we engineers have a saying, P=plenty. When I read that in the book I was holy shit! That is fucking awesome! I would have given my left nut to have been in on that. Oh you guys don’t want to give up this block, well here you go! Don’t worry guys the rocket was a dud don’t mind the stuff it drug out behind it…boom!
Sustainer that is what a lot of people said, but like a lot of awards it was downgraded.
Jason as a former Tanker and been apart of many deliberate breaches, I always wondered what that friggen thing would do to crunchies if given the chance.