American Sniper

American Sniper

Posted on May 18, 2015 at 8:00 am

B+
Lowest Recommended Age: Mature High Schooler
MPAA Rating: R for strong and disturbing war violence, and language throughout including some sexual references
Profanity: Very strong language
Alcohol/ Drugs: Drinking and drunkenness
Violence/ Scariness: Wartime violence including battles and snipers, characters injured and killed, disturbing images
Diversity Issues: A theme of the movie
Date Released to Theaters: January 16, 2015
Date Released to DVD: May 18, 2015
Amazon.com ASIN: B00RGZ915C
Copyright 2015 Warner Brothers
Copyright 2015 Warner Brothers

The highest-grossing movie of 2014 is also one of the most controversial. Director Clint Eastwood and producer-star Bradley Cooper have made a more subtle and nuanced film than either the people who loved it or the people who hated it give him credit for. Extremists on both sides found validation for their views, whether for or against the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan or for or against the actions of the military there. That may be the most significant proof of the evenhandedness of Eastwood, a man who made two separate films about Iwo Jima to tell the stories of both the Japanese and American military.

We see Chris Kyle as a young boy, hunting with his father (Ben Reed). We learn two key facts. First, even at that age, Kyle is a very good shot. Second, we hear his father explain that there are sheep, wolves, and sheepdogs, and he expects his boys to grow up to be protectors of sheep, not wolves or their victims.

Nevertheless, Chris grows up (now played by a bulked-up Cooper) without much direction until he decides to enlist. In the movie, it is a response to news reports about Americans being killed by terrorists, following time spent as a ranch hand and finding his girlfriend in bed with another man. In fact, Kyle had always planned to join the military and he does not mention the girlfriend in his book.

This is the kind of diversion from the truth that has caused some viewers to argue that the portrayal is slanted. Later on, as he becomes the deadliest sniper in US military history, the film again unnecessarily ramps up the drama as though Eastwood does not trust the audience to appreciate the intensity, moral quandaries, and psychological impact of war or the courage and skill required of the military. They really did not have to inflate the story of the bounty being put on his head or make it seem as though he was the only one.

The movie and Kyle’s book both begin with a real-life story of Kyle’s first day, where he shoots a woman with a grenade (in the movie, he shoots the child she hands it to as well). This parallels a later moment where he has to decide whether to shoot. Kyle says in both book and movie that he has no regrets. Whether the viewer concludes that is the reason or the result of combat is left to us.

Parents should know that this movie concerns the real-life experiences of a military sniper in combat, with many characters injured and killed and disturbing images. Characters use strong language and there are sexual references and situations and drinking and drunkenness.

Family discussion: Who are the sheep/wolves/sheepdogs in your life?

If you like this, try: “The Hurt Locker” and “The War Tapes”

Related Tags:

 

Based on a book Based on a true story DVD/Blu-Ray Pick of the Week Romance War

Where is the Faith in “American Sniper” and “Unbroken?”

Posted on January 19, 2015 at 3:37 pm

Two U.S. military heroes wrote books about their lives that became movies released in the last few weeks.  Both men wrote movingly about the way faith anchored their lives and guided their actions.  And yet there was little mention of their faith in the two films, “Unbroken,” the story of WWII soldier Louis Zamperini, and “American Sniper,” the story of Iraqi veteran Chris Kyle.

Sarah Pulliam Bailey wrote in the Washington Post:

Both stories focus on the dramatic stories of warriors who died before the movie versions of their lives came out. Both “American Sniper” and “Unbroken” include an early scene of their families sitting in church. Both men struggle with substance abuse after returning from war.

And both films largely skirt the faith that Kyle and Zamperini said were key to their identity — and their survival.

 

Related Tags:

 

Understanding Media and Pop Culture
THE MOVIE MOM® is a registered trademark of Nell Minow. Use of the mark without express consent from Nell Minow constitutes trademark infringement and unfair competition in violation of federal and state laws. All material © Nell Minow 1995-2024, all rights reserved, and no use or republication is permitted without explicit permission. This site hosts Nell Minow’s Movie Mom® archive, with material that originally appeared on Yahoo! Movies, Beliefnet, and other sources. Much of her new material can be found at Rogerebert.com, Huffington Post, and WheretoWatch. Her books include The Movie Mom’s Guide to Family Movies and 101 Must-See Movie Moments, and she can be heard each week on radio stations across the country.

Website Designed by Max LaZebnik