"He was a hero doing and saying the things a hero should, and Eastwood is too tongue-tied to prevent this unexamined jingoism from echoing through the multiplex." Amy Nicholson. Its a well-made but pointless, jingoistic Hollywood's war biopic on the Navy SEAL Chris Kyle from Texas, it's directed by Clint Eastwood (Unforgiven, Gran Torino). Its how self-righteous aggressive Americans see themselves in their delusions of grandeur. They are super-strong survivors and the deadliest ones in the food chain, just like their growling battle tanks. They are the biggest bullies in town. The film itself follows a singular story line. There are no mindlessly gory but this real-life story is also intentionally crafted so that the protagonist appears highly glorified. This film looks real but its not rooted in the real world. The Iraqis are shown like "savage" animals filled with hate for the Americans, attacking like wild beasts. Despite the admirable acting in the film, for me, it rings hollow inside. The film is uninterested in the basic question, which is, what was the moral cost of killing people? It only tells us that vengeance killing is morally justified. In the end he was another soldier who couldn't leave the war behind and this film is as moral black-and-white. It like Nazis German officers who justified their actions by saying that they were only doing their job on the battlefield. Doesn't sound very honourable. "In many ways there are traces of Eastwood’s experience and knowledge of westerns that can be seen in the way Sniper stages scenes of gunplay – or even the thrilling anticipation of gunplay. The Middle Eastern terrain recalls badlands and crowded towns from old westerns, with a lot of similar tropes played for great effect (big showdowns and shootouts in a town square, rooftop ambushes, etc.). As evidenced by the trailers and TV commercials, many of American Sniper‘s big action sequences are wrought with tension and suspense, and are constructed with meticulous detail to both combat tactics and visual storytelling. In short: the action sequences in the film are well done and exciting and make American Sniper worthy of the price of admission for action fans. " Kofi Outlaw. Yes, training is grueling, but it is not sadistic. Yes battle is jarring and horrific, but also dusty and boring. Yes some soldiers think the effort is pointless, but others believe the effort is profoundly important. http://www.navytimes.com/story/military/featured/2015/01/11/bradley-cooper-american-sniper-chris-kyle-interview/21298229/ "For a combat veteran, an invitation to go shooting with Kyle—perhaps the world’s best sharpshooter—was like being asked to play golf with Tiger Woods. He was the deadliest sniper in U.S. history. During four tours in Iraq he scored more than 150 confirmed kills, with another 100 probable. He had planned the target-practice outing as a way to help Routh as he had helped other troubled soldiers. Routh’s mother Jodi reached out to Kyle for help. But it ended, according to the sheriff, with Kyle and Littlefield both shot dead by Routh. Precisely what happened next remains unknown. Police said that Routh was driving the truck of victim and ex-Navy SEAL Chris Kyle at the time of arrest. Authorities found Routh walking nearby with no shirt and no shoes, and smelling of alcohol. None of those address the central mystery. Kyle was a killer who became a healer. How could he so suddenly be transformed again, into a victim? A survey of 1,388 veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq found that poverty led to more reports of aggression than PTSD. Substance abuse and a criminal record increase the chances of trouble." “In his memoir, Kyle reportedly described killing as “fun”, something he “loved”; he was unwavering in his belief that everyone he shot was a “bad guy”. “I hate the damn savages,” he wrote. “I couldn't give a flying fuck about the Iraqis.” He bragged about murdering looters during Hurricane Katrina, though that was never substantiated. He loved guns and wanted to make sure people could handle them safely. He was the first to tell you: Guns don't kill.”
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AuthorI am interested in unfolding scene design, character design and image design; representing contemporary narrative strategy, narrative shot and narrative style. The flowing images, which combine aesthetics and ideology. NoticeThis site contains copyrighted material for purposes that constitutes 'fair use'; and has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. No fee is charged, and no money is made off this site. If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
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