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Generation Kill (miniseries)

Generation Kill is an American seven-part television miniseries produced for HBO that aired from July 13 to August 24, 2008. It is based on Evan Wright's 2004 book Generation Kill, about his experience as an embedded reporter with the US Marine Corps' 1st Reconnaissance Battalion during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, and was adapted for television by David Simon, Ed Burns, and Wright.[2] The miniseries was directed by Susanna White and Simon Cellan Jones and produced by Andrea Calderwood. The ensemble cast includes Alexander Skarsgård as Sergeant Brad "Iceman" Colbert, Jon Huertas as Sergeant Tony "Poke" Espera, James Ransone as Corporal Josh Ray Person, and Lee Tergesen as Wright.

Production

The cable channel HBO gave the go-ahead to a seven-part miniseries based on Evan Wright's book about his experiences as an embedded reporter with the U.S. Marine Corps' 1st Reconnaissance Battalion during the Iraq War's first phase. The series is set during the invasion of Iraq, from late March to early April 2003. The miniseries was shot over a six-month shoot from mid-to-late 2007 in South Africa, Mozambique, and Namibia.[3][4] The miniseries was produced on a budget of $56 million, with an emphasis on the realism of the production design.[5][6][7]

Crew

David Simon and Ed Burns co-wrote and executive produced the miniseries alongside Company Pictures' George Faber and Charles Pattinson, and HBO's Anne Thomopoulos. Andrea Calderwood was the producer; Nina Noble served as co-executive producer; author Evan Wright was credited as a consulting producer; Susanna White and Simon Cellan Jones directed the episodes; and two former U.S. Marines, Eric Kocher and Rudy Reyes, served as the production's military advisors as well as starred in the series.[8]

Cast and characters

There are 28 starring cast members with a large supporting cast. The majority of the characters were drawn from the Second Platoon of the First Reconnaissance Battalion's Bravo Company. Lee Tergesen played embedded reporter Evan Wright, though throughout the series he is only referred to as "reporter" or "Rolling Stone". Wright was assigned to the lead vehicle of Bravo Company, which he shared with Staff Sergeant Brad "Iceman" Colbert, played by Alexander Skarsgård, Corporal Josh Ray Person, played by James Ransone and Lance Corporal Harold James Trombley, played by Billy Lush. To prepare for their roles as Recon Marines, the cast attended a six-day boot camp led by Eric Kocher and Rudy Reyes.[9]

Other starring characters, from 2nd platoon include:

Additional characters:

Episodes

Soundtrack

Although the series has no score, it features a large collection of music, much of it songs that were popular among the American populace in late 2002 and early 2003. The newer music (in the show's context) serves to illustrate pop culture during the time of the invasion. All of the songs are sung a cappella by cast members, with the exception of Johnny Cash's "The Man Comes Around" and Josh Ray Person's "Re-Up Time".

Episode 1: "Get Some"

"Merry Christmas from the Family", by Robert Earl Keen
"Sk8er Boi", by Avril Lavigne
"Lovin' You", by Minnie Riperton
"Use Me", by Bill Withers

Episode 2: "The Cradle of Civilization"

"Beyoğlu", by D.J. Kambo
"The Marines' Hymn", Traditional
"Smoke Signals", by Dada Flair
"Complicated", by Avril Lavigne
"Bodies", by Drowning Pool
"Boyz-n-the-Hood", by Dynamite Hack
"Hot in Herre", by Nelly

Episode 3: "Screwby"

"Hot in Herre", by Nelly
"It Was a Good Day", by Ice Cube
"Tainted Love", by Ed Cobb

Episode 4: "Combat Jack"

"The "Fish" Cheer/I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-to-Die Rag", by Country Joe and the Fish
"Attahaddiat", by Kadhum Al Sahir
"Entaha Almeshwar", by Kadhum Al Sahir
"Copenhagen Song", by Josh Ray Person
"Teenage Dirtbag", by Wheatus

Episode 5: "A Burning Dog"

"On the Road Again", by Willie Nelson
"Sundown", by Gordon Lightfoot
"My Cherie Amour", by Stevie Wonder
"Gangsta Gangsta", by N.W.A

Episode 6: "Stay Frosty"

"It Ain't Easy", by Tupac Shakur
"Let Me Ride", by Dr. Dre
"Fuck tha Police", by N.W.A
"Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys", by Ed Bruce
"Can I Kick It?", by A Tribe Called Quest
"So Fresh, So Clean", by Outkast

Episode 7: "Bomb in the Garden"

"9 to 5 (Morning Train)", by Sheena Easton
"Come Sail Away", by Styx
"King of the Road", by Roger Miller
"Re-Up Time", by Josh Ray Person
"The Man Comes Around", by Johnny Cash

Reception

Critical response

The miniseries received very positive reviews from critics. On Metacritic, it received a score of 80 out of 100 based on 27 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[10] On Rotten Tomatoes, the miniseries has an approval rating of 86% based on 42 reviews, with an average rating of 9.1/10. The critical consensus reads, "Generation Kill plunges the viewer into war with a visceral force that's still somehow reined in by masterful storytelling and a strong command of period details."[11] A red carpet screening of Generation Kill was held for U.S. Marines at Camp Pendleton in California, where the series was favorably received.[6]

Entertainment Weekly gave the series an "A−" rating, and critic Ken Tucker remarked favorably on its avoidance of cliché, self-consciousness, and agenda-driven storytelling, and praised its execution, nuance, and verisimilitude.[12] Robert Bianco of USA Today wrote: "the seven-part Generation Kill is what you'd hope for from the people behind The Wire: an honest, barely adorned, sometimes painfully vivid representation of life as we live it now. It's journalism converted to art, with both benefiting".[13] Nev Pierce of Empire gave the miniseries a perfect five out of five stars.[14] Brian Lowry of Variety says "HBO nails the target with Generation Kill".[15] Tim Goodman of SFGate praised the series' authenticity and attention to detail.[16] Writing for The New York Times, Alessandra Stanley remarked "Generation Kill has a superb cast and script, provides a searingly intense, clear-eyed look at the first stage of the war, and it is often gripping".[17] Noel Murray of The A.V. Club wrote: "By the time Generation Kill's final chapter ends, Wright and company have created not just a nuanced, necessary explication of recent events, but an epic that can stand alongside the greatest long-form movies ever made".[18] Pattie Pegler of Stuff said, "This is a complex, unwieldy tale that draws you in and isn't afraid to take its time. And, in that way it reminds me of The Wire – a brilliant piece of television that left you thinking long after you switched off. Generation Kill promises to be equally unforgettable."[19]

Conversely, Austin Smith of the New York Post was not as impressed. He described the series "as dull and throbbing as a severe headache".[20] Similarly, Troy Patterson of Slate wrote: "Generation Kill is too skeptical about authority to entertain neocons or red-meat nationalists and too depressing to delight a good liberal. It plays like it's been built for antisocial boys—armchair heroes in love with guns and in search of demented adventure."[21]

Accolades

References

  1. ^ Dee, Jake (May 18, 2024). "Why This Emmy-Winning War Show Was Canceled So Abruptly". MovieWeb. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  2. ^ Smith, Lynn (July 15, 2008). "Ensuring a Series is Combat Ready". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved March 20, 2013.
  3. ^ Finer, Jonathon (July 12, 2008). "Generation Kill Captures War's Lulls and Horrors". Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved March 20, 2013.
  4. ^ Leonard, John (July 2, 2008). "HBO's Terrific Summer Buzz Kill". New York Magazine. Retrieved July 2, 2008.
  5. ^ Robinson, John (October 2, 2009). "Calling the shots on Generation Kill". The Guardian. Archived from the original on February 27, 2017. Retrieved October 2, 2009.
  6. ^ a b Billen, Andrew (January 15, 2009). "Generation Kill: the new Wire". The Times. London. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved June 3, 2011.
  7. ^ Grove, David (November 21, 2018). "The 3 reasons why 'Generation Kill' feels so authentic". We Are The Mighty. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
  8. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (June 1, 2007). "HBO drafts cast for 'Kill' mini". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved January 20, 2010.
  9. ^ Clark, James (August 1, 2016). "10 Facts From 'Generation Kill' That Make Us Love The Series Even More". Task & Purpose. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
  10. ^ "Generation Kill". Metacritic. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved March 5, 2015.
  11. ^ "Generation Kill: Miniseries". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
  12. ^ Tucker, Ken (December 20, 2019). "Generation Kill". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  13. ^ Bianco, Robert (July 11, 2008). "HBO scores a direct hit with Generation Kill". USA Today. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2008.
  14. ^ Pierce, Nev (February 27, 2009). "Generation Kill Review". Empire. Retrieved February 27, 2009.
  15. ^ Lowry, Brian (July 9, 2008). "Generation Kill". Variety. Retrieved July 9, 2008.
  16. ^ Goodman, Tim (July 11, 2008). "TV review: 'Generation Kill' feels real". SFGate. Retrieved July 11, 2008.
  17. ^ Stanley, Alessandra (July 11, 2008). "Comrades in Chaos, Invading Iraq". The New York Times. Retrieved July 11, 2008.
  18. ^ Murray, Noel (January 7, 2009). "Generation Kill". The A.V. Club. Retrieved January 7, 2009.
  19. ^ Pegler, Pattie (July 26, 2016). "TV Review: Generation Kill". Stuff. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
  20. ^ Smith, Austin (July 9, 2008). "War Bonding". New York Post. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved February 13, 2012.
  21. ^ Patterson, Troy (July 11, 2008). "Band of Lunkheads". Slate. Retrieved July 11, 2008.
  22. ^ "2008 Gracies Gala Winners". Alliance for Women in Media. October 19, 2016. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
  23. ^ "2009 Artios Awards". Casting Society of America. Retrieved November 2, 2009.
  24. ^ "The Winners and Nominees for the Cinema Audio Society Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for 2008". Cinema Audio Society. Archived from the original on July 25, 2011.
  25. ^ Kilday, Gregg (January 25, 2009). "'Button' among Golden Reel nominees". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  26. ^ "Generation Kill". Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  27. ^ "Television Critics Association Awards Celebrate 25th Anniversary". Television Critics Association. August 1, 2009. Archived from the original on March 27, 2012. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
  28. ^ "7th Annual VES Awards". Visual Effects Society. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
  29. ^ Finke, Nikki (December 8, 2008). "2009 Writers Guild Awards Announced". Deadline. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  30. ^ "RTS Programme Awards 2010". Royal Television Society. March 14, 2011. Retrieved September 22, 2022.

External links

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