The Tillman Story
The Tillman Story Image
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Metascore
86 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 28 Critics What's this?

User Score
7.3 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 26 Ratings

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0 out of 10
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  • Starring: Pat Tillman
  • Summary: Pat Tillman never thought of himself as a hero. His choice to leave a multimillion-dollar football contract and join the military wasn't done for any reason other than he felt it was the right thing to do. The fact that the military manipulated his tragic death in the line of duty into a propaganda tool is unfathomable and thoroughly explored in Amir Bar-Lev's riveting and enraging documentary.… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 28
  3. Negative: 0 out of 28
  1. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Michael Phillips
    100
    It is enraging yet nuanced, an elusive combination for any documentary.
  2. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Mick LaSalle
    100
    By the way, The Tillman Story has an R rating because of language. Think about that one, too: Lies are rated G and can be heard around the clock on television, but try saying the truth with the proper force and you end up with a restricted audience.
  3. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Justin Lowe
    80
    Capably narrated by Josh Brolin, Amir Bar-Lev's penetrating and vital documentary goes beyond tracking the Tillman family's investigation into Pat's death to question the motives of commanding officers and higher-ups.
  4. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Kyle Smith
    50
    The Tillman Story purports to be an exposé of the cover-up of the death by friendly fire of the Army Ranger and one time NFL star Pat Tillman. But, provocative and colorful as the film is, it does the very thing it denounces -- massaging the facts to seize Tillman for a political agenda.

See all 28 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 8
  3. Negative: 3 out of 8
  1. rmyers1000
    9
    Truth, justice and the American way. 21st century style. What's sad is how we have all become so accepting of this crappy world we have created. Pat wasn't - but he's dead.… Expand
  2. willlybrand
    9
    This review contains spoilers. Sitting down to write about the â… Collapse
  3. filmtrashreview
    6
    The Tillman Story is great but after about an hour it just gets repetitive. I get it we all look for answers from our government and sometimes they cover things up. After finding out the coverup, the film just turns into a simpathic bit to morn Pat Tillman's life.… Expand
  4. shaunmed
    3
    soldiers die and governments try to make them into heroes. whats so shocking about that? what baffles me is that you sign up to go fight in a war, you get killed, and then people make the death out to be more tragic than any other death. war = tragic. nothing new here, move on.… Expand

See all 8 User Reviews

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