So what kind of constructive cultural conversation might we be served by having?įirst, let’s make sure we do not misunderstand war and violence. This is the tension “American Sniper” has brought to the surface: the men and women in military we are unified in supporting are precisely the ones executing the brutality of war so many wish to repudiate. We support men and women in our military, yet deplore virtually every act of violence associated with war itself. Yet many remain firmly against war of almost any kind, and certainly the more recent ones flowing from 9/11. (Eastwood was supposedly snubbed for a directorial Oscar nomination, despite the film being nominated for best picture, due to his speech at the last Republican convention). Others say he was trained for just that type of mentality, and his post-traumatic stress syndrome is a reality for many who have been through war.Īnd yes, the divide seems to be a bit between liberals and conservatives, if not Democrats and Republicans. Some say the main character is disturbed as evidenced by both his methodical killing of “savages” (his words). Others say it simply reveals the disconnect between military and civilians. And in case you haven’t picked up on it, we are talking about this movie. It deserves it’s “R” rating for violence. Veterans of Iraq say it’s the most realistic they’ve seen. If you’ve seen it, you know it’s not an easy movie to watch. It is already the second-highest grossing war film in North American history. This is the largest opening for any movie in January on record, with the largest second-weekend take that wasn’t a comic book or sequel in movie history. He is credited for being the most lethal sniper in American history with 255 kills, of which 160 were documented (witnessed).Īt the time of this writing, it has topped the box office for two straight weekends, bringing in $247 million worldwide. The movie is based on the autobiography of Chris Kyle, a Navy Seal who did four tours in Iraq. Few films have stormed the box office – and surprised the pundits in the process of doing so – more than Clint Eastwood’s American Sniper.
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