American Sniper Kills It

Bradley Cooper as Chris Kyle

So I generally despise politics, and I try to avoid writing about it in any way.  But reviewing a movie like "American Sniper" it becomes increasingly difficult to keep politics and America's foreign policy out of it.

Since the end of December, I had been hearing hype about this movie, which has garnered six Academy Award nominations.  From the conservative, flag-waving element, I was hearing what a great movie this was, that Chris Kyle (played by Bradley Cooper), a Navy SEAL marksman called the deadliest sniper in the history of American military, was a hero.  On the flip side, you had liberal critics calling Kyle a "baby killer", that the film glorified American warmongering, and was a propaganda movie justifying continued U.S. presence in the Middle East.

First of all, you should know my views, which I usually keep close to my chest.  I am somewhat of a conspiracy theorist.  I believe that 9/11 was used to justify, if not outright orchestrated, to plunge us into illegal wars in Iraq and Afghanistan - not in the interest of protecting our freedom - but for economic reasons.  I believe in neither the Democratic or Republican parties, that they are different sides of the same proverbial coin, and that American interests are controlled, not by the federal government, but by a consortium of mega-corporations and banks.  I don't support any of the wars we are involved in.  In fact, I don't support any war or military aggression at all.

That said, I don't  believe that any of our military servicemen are to blame for any of that.  Their service is based on misguided patriotism and a desire to serve the American people.  I love this nation as much as they do.  I still salute the flag, and I have gone to rallies in support of our troops.  Still, until the U.S. military truly represents the interests of the American people, and not the corporatists, I would strongly advise any of my children to not join the military.

That said, I am a sucker for these kinds of movies.  I am patriotic.  I loved this movie, just like I loved "Lone Survivor", a book that I also read.  I didn't read the book that this particular movie is based on.  Some critics have stated that it was embellished, and sometimes outright lied.  Frankly, I don't care about that.  It's a given that a Hollywood movie based on real events is going to spin and twist events from their actuality.  As far as this movie being propaganda, show me a movie that isn't.  Every narrative has an agenda.  The key is to be able to look beyond those things.  In other words, I can watch a movie like this, enjoy it, and not be swayed by whatever message it is promulgating.  I am not that gullible.

As far as this movie being pro-war, I guess that I didn't see it that way.  In fact, I kind of saw it as opposite.  Bradley Cooper brilliantly portrayed Kyle as tortured by the things that he was forced to do and the tension that it placed on the relationship with his wife (played by Sienna Miller, whom I didn't recognize until the end credits).  It showed the cost that war exacts on men.  And, really, it was these human moments that made the story so poignant, not the battle scenes (which were still pretty cool).

I disagreed with his frequent use of the word "savages" to describe the enemy combatants.  Who were the savages?  The terrorists?  Muslims?  Arabs?  I have only ever had positive experiences with Muslims, and I have a deep respect for Islam.  I have always taken umbrage with the Muslim-hating that seems to be prevalent since we went to war in the Middle East.

Whatever you feel about this topic, whatever your political views, you should see this movie.  Clint Eastwood has spun a brilliant masterpiece that at least deserves to be seen.