Thought I Had... While Staring at the American Sniper Poster

Careful where you point that thing, Bradley. 

Comments

[Mark]

Bradley is even hotter in uniform!

[Hayden W.]

From fanatical religiosity (Noah, Exodus) to straight-up jingoism, I wish these "serious filmmakers" would be a little less cynical about what American audiences will pay boatloads of money to go see. At the end of the day, they're capitalizing on a built-in audience of viewers who know nothing about filmmaking and insulating themselves from criticism in "patriotism" and "reverence."

There is so much financial incentive to make these movies (and movies like Heaven is For Real) that we don't need to waste our good people making them. Not that I consider Clint Eastwood of late to be "good people."

Anyway, bah humbug.

[Volvagia]

Hayden: Outside of a couple strokes of luck in The Outlaw Josey Wales and Unforgiven, Eastwood's really just a "good" filmmaker, not a great one, and certainly not worth two Director wins.

[Henry]

"The most lethal sniper in US history." I need some context for that. Is it based on a true story? Is it a Brad Thor like fiction? Is it just bad marketing?

It makes me suspect of the film. Something I would not otherwise be.

[adri]

My first thoughts are: is there going to be a shoot out between the Anerican sniper and the German sniper of Inglourious Basterds? Is Melanie Laurent in this? (Because if it's just Sienna Miller, you're not selling me). Does a movie theatre burn?

No, I guess it's something more serious and less fun, with nobody interesting in it. But I do credit Clint Eastwood that it will have a story, effective action, and be well shot.

[David]

I'm so tired of titles like "American ___________" as their title.

American Beauty, American Hustlle, American Horror Story, American Pie, etc....

Get creative!!

[Keegan]

I didn't realise Sienna was still a star (and I like her). Thought they'd bill Bradley and that's it.

[Ulrich]

@Keegan. Sienna's star has faded somewhat, but besides American Sniper, in which she has a really meaty, emotional role - she has 5 really interesting films coming up.
And she's been cast in Ben Affleck's next project AND Whit Stillman's next project.

I have no doubt she'll come back in a major way, and she deserves it, she's soooo good.

[Peggy Sue]

Wait! There used to be an American flag covering his pelvis. Traitors!

[Jase]

I like Bradley Cooper but everything about this movie seems so morally repugnant to me (and right wingers are guaranteed to love it). I mean...does no one else find it uncomfortable to turn government sanctioned MURDERERS into heroes?

[Volvagia]

Jase: Is anyone unambiguously heroic in Eastwood's aesthetic these days?

[Heather]

As a veteran of the Iraq War (as a nurse), the relationship between film/tv portrayals of armed services and the Pentagon is very gross. In order to receive the ability to wear uniforms to standard, correct weapons, or have correct vehicles, (probably a lot more but that is what I know of) the producers need the Pentagon approval which is why many big studio films are very pro US military. The Pentagon crafts the message.

I'll probably see it mostly because one day I hope there's a non documentary that shows something akin to my experience watching Reba or Dexter for hours, then a flurry of activity for a hour treating patients then back to the tv. Really all I want is to show at least some of the destruction the US caused in the occupation but it probably won't. At least I'll have my actual real life former Marine sniper turned physical therapist to supply bitchy comments.

[Arkaan]

I did not know that, Heather. Thanks for that insight,

[Robert Hamer]

Henry - "The Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. History" is indeed a real person. Over his ten years as a U.S. Navy SEAL sniper, Chris Kyle held a total of 160 confirmed kills and claimed as many as 255. He was highly decorated, was promoted all the way to Chief Petty Officer before being honorably discharged in 2009, wrote a bestselling book about his career, got into a weird legal dispute with Jesse Ventura, and was shot and killed on a shooting range in Texas last year.

[Henry]

Thanks Robert. But, the question still stands....if this based on his life? Has it been so deeply altered that they can't say it's based on a true story? Is it a fantasy? Did the studio go cheap and not want to pay his estate for the rights? Or......is it just bad marketing.

The poster makes it look like the latter. I would be more interested in the film if I thought it was a bio pic than just another "rah-rah, lets go kill everyone who isn't one of us" straight to the discount bin at Walmart type films.

I"m not hating on Eastwood or Cooper. I like both of them and had some interest in the film but the poster is turning me away. Posters have to be exact as they are hard copy so I'm wondering what the story is.

And maybe it's just that I hate that line.

[Robert Hamer]

My theory? Some of the more...let's just say disputed parts of Chris Kyle's autobiography are probably going to be depicted in this film (which I can only assume is an adaptation since they share the same title) and the producers wanted to avoid getting into hot water over any "Based on a True Story" claims.

But I honestly don't know for sure.