Body of War

Infobox Film
name = Body of War


image_size = 200 X 200
caption =
director = Ellen Spiro and Phil Donahue
producer = Ellen Spiro and Phil Donahue
writer =
narrator =
starring = Tomas Young
music = Eddie Vedder
cinematography = Ellen Spiro
editing = Bernadine Colish
distributor = Film Sales Company
released = 2007
runtime =
country =
language =
budget =
gross =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website = http://www.bodyofwar.com/
amg_id =
imdb_id = 1068634

"Body of War", directed by Ellen Spiro and Phil Donahue, is a 2007 documentary following Tomas Young, an Iraq War veteran paralyzed from a bullet to the spine, on a physical and emotional journey as he adapts to his new body and begins to question the decision to go to war in Iraq.

As Tomas's journey unfolds, the film cuts back and forth to Congressional proceedings in Washington, D.C. Footage includes passionate speeches by Senator Robert Byrd as well as a running tally of how each U.S. Senate member voted on the resolution to authorize President George W. Bush to war in Iraq.

The National Board of Review named "Body of War" Best Documentary of 2007. Previous winners include "An Inconvenient Truth", "March of the Penguins", "Born Into Brothels", "The Fog of War" and "Bowling for Columbine".

Honors and awards

*Shortlisted for an Oscar nomination from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. [Melidonian, Teni. [http://www.oscars.org/press/pressreleases/2007/07.11.19.html 15 Docs Move Ahead in 2007 Oscar Race] Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences official website. 2007-11-19. Retrieved on 2007-12-3.]

*Best Documentary (National Board of Review of Motion Pictures) [ [http://www.nbrmp.org/awards/ Awards for 2007] . National Board of Review of Motion Pictures official website. Retrieved on 2007-12-12.]

*People's Choice Award (runner-up)at the Toronto International Film Festival. [ [http://www.tiffreviews.com/2007/film-profile?fid=175 TIFFReviews, 2007 edition] Retrieved on 10/29/07.]

*Audience Award for Best Documentary at the Hamptons International Film Festival. [ [http://hamptonsfilmfest.org/?m=200710 2007 Hamptons International Film Festival Awards] Hamptons International Film Festival official website. Retrieved on 10/29/07.]

Critical reception

*"Superb documentary ... almost unbearably moving." — [http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1660934,00.html "Time" magazine] [Corliss, Richard. [http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1660934,00.html 9/11 at the Toronto Film Festival.] "Time" magazine. 2007-9-11. Retrieved on 2007-11/29.]

*"Identification with a single protagonist gives "Body" something to set it apart from other antiwar documentaries."
— [http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/awards_festivals/fest_reviews/article_display.jsp?&rid=9864 "Hollywood Reporter"] [DeFore John. [http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/awards_festivals/fest_reviews/article_display.jsp?&rid=9864 A Wounded Soldier Turns Anti-War Campaigner in Docu Co-Directed by First-Timer Phil Donahue.] "The Hollywood Reporter". 2007-9-19. Retrieved on 2007-11/29.]

*"Unforgettably intimate, Un-missable. Young is a fascinating, charismatic character, the camera loves him - as will audiences." — [http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/255105 "Toronto Star"] [Knelman, Martin. [http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/255105 Paralyzed Vet Soldiering on as an Anti-War Icon.] "The Toronto Star". 2007-9-11. Retrieved on 2007-11/29.]

Media coverage

*Moyers, Bill. [http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/03212008/profile.html Bill Moyers Journal . BODY OF WAR | PBS] pbs.org/moyers 2008-03-21. Retrieved on 2008-3-29.
*Zeitchik, Steven. [http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117968196.html?categoryid=13&cs=1 Donahue's 'Body' Builds Buzz: Talkshow Icon's Documentary Sparks Interest.] Variety. 2007-7-8. Retrieved on 2007-7-12.
*Gillette, Felix. [http://www.observer.com/2007/phil-donahue-strikes-back Phil Donahue Strikes Back.] The New York Observer. 2007-6-19. Retrieved on 2007-6-25.
*Donahue, Phil. [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/phil-donahue/body-of-war_b_52505.html Body of War.] The Huffington Post. 2007-6-17. Retrieved on 2007-6-25.
*Friedman, Roger. [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,232057,00.html Phil Donahue Makes Anti-War Film.] FoxNews.com. 2006-11-27. Retrieved on 2007-6-25.
*Niles Folsom, Chandra. [http://mediabistro.com/articles/cache/a9710.asp So What Do You Do, Phil Donahue?] MediaBistro.com. 2007-6-6. Retrieved on 2007-6-25.

oundtrack

"," a 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.

Young personally selected each of the tracks that appear on Body of War: Songs that Inspired an Iraq War Veteran, including Eddie Vedder's previously unreleased, live version of "No More," which was written specifically for the Body of War documentary and performed with Ben Harper at Lollapalooza 2007 in Chicago's Grant Park. The double-CD set also features incisive songs from John Lennon, Bruce Springsteen, Bright Eyes, Neil Young, Lupe Fiasco and Serj Tankian.

This music, Young says, serves as his personal ‘soundtrack for Iraq.’ “The compilation record was an idea that grew out of my love of music and my reliance on it before, during, and after the war,” he says. “The songs I selected for the record were tracks that inspired, motivated, and at times, literally saved me over the past few years.”

“Tomas has taught me a great deal, and our friendship has become one of depth and sincerity,” Vedder adds. “It has been a mind-expanding experience. I see how he relies on the strength of the songs to help him through each day. It is a true living example of the power of music.”

The Body of War music site (www.bodyofwarmusic.com) enables visitors to order the Body Of War double CD set or buy the iTunes version of the album, view the video for “No More” by Ellen Spiro and special bonus footage with Tomas Young and Eddie Vedder, as well as link to sites and a forum where users can take action based on their feelings about the Iraq war.

All proceeds from Body of War: Songs That Inspired an Iraq War Veteran, which features original cover art designed and donated by acclaimed political artist Shepard Fairey, go to benefit the non-profit organization Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW), as chosen by Young. Founded in 2004 by Iraq war veterans, IVAW’s goal is to give voice to the large number of active-duty service people and veterans who are against the war, but are under various pressures to remain silent. In September, Sire Records donated $100,000 to IVAW in the name of Young, who is a spokesperson for the organization.

Track listing

Disc one

#Brendan James – "Hero's Song"
#Lupe Fiasco – "American Terrorist" (Fiasco, Prolyfic, Armando Corea) – 4:40
#Michael Franti & Spearhead – "Light Up Ya Lighter" (Franti, Itiene) – 4:57
#Rage Against the Machine – "Guerrilla Radio" – 3:26
#Public Enemy – "Son of a Bush" – 5:52
#Serj Tankian – "Empty Walls" (Tankian) – 3:49
#Bad Religion – "Let Them Eat War" (Brian Baker, Jay Bentley, Sage Francis, Brett Gurewitz, Brooks Wackerman) – 2:57
#Against Me! – "White People for Peace" (Tom Gabel) – 3:33
#The Bouncing Souls – "Letter from Iraq" (The Bouncing Souls, Garett Reppenhagen) – 2:57
#Dilated Peoples – "War" (?uestlove)
#Rx Bandits – "Overcome (The Recapitulation)" – 3:46
#No Use for a Name – "Fields of Agony" – 2:24
#Talib Kweli & Cornel West – "Bushonomics"
#Immortal Technique – "The 4th Branch" – 5:20
#System of a Down – "B.Y.O.B." (Daron Malakian, Casey Chaos, Serj Tankian) – 4:17
#Eddie Vedder & Ben Harper – "No More" [Live]

Disc two

#Bruce Springsteen – "Devils & Dust" (Springsteen) – 4:58
#Pearl Jam – "Masters of War" [Live] (Bob Dylan)
#Bright Eyes – "When the President Talks to God" (Conor Oberst) – 2:46
#John Lennon – "Gimme Some Truth" (Lennon) – 3:16
#Neil Young – "The Restless Consumer"
#The Nightwatchman – "Battle Hymns"
#Kimya Dawson – "Anthrax"
#Blow Up Hollywood – "WMD"
#David Ford – "State of the Union" (Ford)
#Tori Amos – "Yo George" (Amos) – 1:25
#Laura Cantrell – "Love Vigilantes"
#Ben Harper – "Black Rain" (Kevin Churko, Ozzy Osbourne, Zakk Wylde)
#Roger Waters – "To Kill the Child"
#Tom Waits – "Day After Tomorrow" (Kathleen Brennan, Waits)

References

External links

* [http://www.bodyofwar.com/ Official site]
*imdb title|id=1068634|title=Body of War
*rotten-tomatoes|id=body_of_war|title=Body of War
*metacritic film|id=bodyofwar|title=Body of War
*mojo title|id=bodyofwar|title=Body of War
*amg movie|id=1:410791|title=Body of War
* [http://www.bodyofwarmusic.com/ "Body of War" music site]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZpeh3C5YGQ Official trailer] at Youtube
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCP1dPKFEDE Eddie Vedder interviewed on "Body of War"] at Youtube
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGtpfehw-qM Donahue and Spiro talk about Young's album "Body of War"] at Youtube
* [http://vivadocumentary.com/2008/theatrical-releases-not-easy-for-iraq-docs-says-donahue/ Donahue talks about his frustrations with theatrical distribution for "Body of War"]