Like most war movies that can conflict viewers’ minds of the characters’ life-threatening actions, the United States new No. 1 film “American Sniper” has created what may be depicted as the most controversial war film in movie history.
After beating out the 1998 favorite “Saving Private Ryan” as the top grossing U.S. war title with a total of $307 million (IMDB), it became clear to almost all Americans that the late Chris Kyle, the inspiration for the film, had an entire behind-the-scenes life besides being known as the county’s deadliest sniper.
From Kyle’s story, the movie can be seen to praise certain military men and women for their efforts in fighting for the freedom of the United States, as most military films do when recognizing real-life veterans.
It can also be proudly presented to the general audience as documenting the life of one of war history’s bravest heroes in order to continuously give hope to the men and women currently in the military as well as all of their families and loved ones. In many ways, more respect is given to the military and everyone in it when another war film hits the big screen and is largely talked about for decades.
Although it was snubbed from but one Oscar award on Sunday, Feb. 22, this movie does cover many graphic and discretional situations in which the audience criticized after it was released in the United States. Celebrities, journalists and many of the films’ viewers became furious and subsequently saw him as a “murderer” or a “coward.”
Soon after, a billboard in Los Angles that advertised the movie was vandalized with the word “murder” written in spray paint. Within days, the film was degraded as giving honor to a man who took pleasure in killing anyone who posed a threat, including children.
Kyle’s past interviews on talk shows such as “Conan” and “BBC News,” to mainly promote his book that inspired the film, also ended with unimpressed and angry attitudes. During his 2012 interview on “Conan,” Kyle gave much pride to the fact that he had more kills than Carlos Hathcock, another lethal sniper from the Vietnam War, as well as talking about the accidental 2,100 yard kill in Iraq that made him so famous.
Amy Nicholson, a writer for “Slate” magazine took many shots at Kyle’s fake-heroism such as how Kyle murdered two carjackers in Texas and threw a punch at former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura that subsequently earned Ventura more than $1 million in a lawsuit against Kyle.
As Liam Neeson pointed out when mentioning the film at the 87th annual Oscar Awards, a soldier’s battle is often fought when they return home. Thinking back on those moments where a soldier’s life was constantly in danger, how can there be criticism directed toward the mind? When someone puts a gun in one’s hand and is told to kill enemies young and old, in order to defend their country, does that automatically transform them into a sort of monster?
Whatever still makes this film seem like a disgrace to America’s greatest defense mechanism, it would be easier to take a look at other war movies that assert the same kind of fear in mentally disoriented veterans and complexities of love and family.
Is it really fair for us to take the anger and sensitivity of Iraqi and American deaths and target it all toward one person that just simply did their part? Of course not. It’s a matter of looking at what war is outside of our familiar walls and seeing the tough decisions that soldiers have to make to protect others and themselves. Kyle does exactly that. If he wasn’t clearly recognized for the duties he was able to pursue, then there would be some great confusion as to the 200-mile funeral procession in Austin, Texas to honor him when he passed.
No matter who it is that is deciding to enroll into the military, whether it’s the Army, Navy or Marines, remembering that every man and woman that is part of it is equally vulnerable, brave and capable of bringing honor to the U.S. It’s important to understand that many of us will never experience what it means to go to war and be lucky enough to come home alive.
The respect and pride that is given to these veterans, especially those like Kyle and Littlefield, should continue to be uplifted even more through Kyle’s story. The topic of war and the tragedies that come with it is certainly a sensitive topic with the many adjustments we’ve had to accept. But the controversy of the “American Sniper” film gave us a new perspective of sacrifices that are made to honor miles of land that we call home.
