American Sniper (movie thread)

[PortlandCardFan]

As for the movie... I agree with Brian.

Spoiler

I thought BC and SM did a great job but I just didn't get the emotional feel until the motorcade at the end...

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Guys - keep this thread about the movie American Sniper, please.

To discuss snipers, Chris Kyle in real life, war, politics, etc. please go to:

American Sniper (P&R thread)

Thanks !!

 

[Rivercard]

Eastwood really pulled it off in showing the dark side of war.

Is there any other side of war other than a dark side for those who fight it? Eastwood really didn't have another way to go in presenting it.

 

[ajcardfan]

Is there any other side of war other than a dark side for those who fight it? Eastwood really didn't have another way to go in presenting it.

Sure. Many times in war movies the violence is glorified and unrealistic with consequences glossed over.

 

[Bert]

I saw this and thought it was really good. I did not see it as a political movie at all it was just a good movie about the struggles of war.

 

[NJCardFan]

The one thing I didn't like is where they embellished things.

Spoiler

Like his first kill being a kid. According to the book, he never killed a kid although he came close with the kid with the RPG. Also, according to the book, the enemy sniper Mustafa only gets a brief mention but in the movie he was Kyle's white whale and even though Kyle says he got a kill at 2100 feet, this Mustafa wasn't it. Other than that I thought it was a well acted and well done movie and leaving Eastwood off of the best director nominations is both petty and childish.

 

[Cheesebeef]

The one thing I didn't like is where they embellished things.

Spoiler

Like his first kill being a kid. According to the book, he never killed a kid although he came close with the kid with the RPG. Also, according to the book, the enemy sniper Mustafa only gets a brief mention but in the movie he was Kyle's white whale and even though Kyle says he got a kill at 2100 feet, this Mustafa wasn't it. Other than that I thought it was a well acted and well done movie and leaving Eastwood off of the best director nominations is both petty and childish.

what makes it "petty and childish"? Was it petty and childish to leave the writer off the Best Adapted Screenplay list? I thought the movie was okay to solid, but I didn't see anything in it that made me thought Eastwood deserved a best directing nod. i mean... if we're going to say leaving Eastwood off the list was petty and childish (is the reason because he's a republican? if so, how do you explain him getting nods in other years?), does that in turn make leaving the director of Selma off the list racist?

 

[Brian in Mesa]

what makes it "petty and childish"? Was it petty and childish to leave the writer off the Best Adapted Screenplay list? I thought the movie was okay to solid, but I didn't see anything in it that made me thought Eastwood deserved a best directing nod. i mean... if we're going to say leaving Eastwood off the list was petty and childish (is the reason because he's a republican? if so, how do you explain him getting nods in other years?), does that in turn make leaving the director of Selma off the list racist?

We have a P&R thread for this, but I'll say something quickly about Clint being labeled a Republican: He isn't one. He is a registered Libertarian.

Here is the wikipedia entry on American Sniper and Eastwood's politics:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_life_of_Clint_Eastwood

Eastwood's views on war and politics were called into question and misjudged again with the release of his 2014 movie American Sniper, which was a #1 hit at the box office making over $90 million it's opening weekend, the highest debut ever for a Eastwood film. The film was met with both strong critical praise and heavy criticism. Some Democrats in the media were labeling the film Republican propaganda, that Eastwood was a warmonger. Republicans however were calling it a Pro-War, Pro-Republican film; Eastwood responded by saying it was a "stupid analysis" and that the movie had nothing to do with political parties. Due to his speech at the 2012 Republican National Convention, some see him as a warmonger or right-wing poster boy, however, Eastwood said he has always opposed war, and is a pragmatic Libertarian rather than a red-meat Republican. Eastwood further explained his anti-war stance by saying "I was a child growing up during World War II. That was supposed to be the one to end all wars. And four years later, I was standing at the draft board being drafted during the Korean conflict, and then after that there was Vietnam, and it goes on and on forever . . . I just wonder . . . does this ever stop? And no, it doesn’t. So each time we get in these conflicts, it deserves a lot of thought before we go wading in or wading out. Going in or coming out. It needs a better thought process, I think."

Here is an interview which solidifies his views a bit more:

Think before you shoot, Clint Eastwood says of war: interview

http://www.thestar.com/entertainmen...oot_clint_eastwood_says_of_war_interview.html

 

[NJCardFan]

what makes it "petty and childish"? Was it petty and childish to leave the writer off the Best Adapted Screenplay list? I thought the movie was okay to solid, but I didn't see anything in it that made me thought Eastwood deserved a best directing nod. i mean... if we're going to say leaving Eastwood off the list was petty and childish (is the reason because he's a republican? if so, how do you explain him getting nods in other years?), does that in turn make leaving the director of Selma off the list racist?

It's childish and petty because it was purely political. Not only is Eastwood a conservative, he had the audacity to speak at the Republican National Convention where he openly mocked Obama. How do you explain Grand Torino getting zero nominations? Not one movie from that year was better than Grand Torino and Eastwood should have gotten both a best director and best actor nomination. But you keep believing otherwise. As for Selma, considering that the president of the Academy is black, any cry of racism is ridiculous.

 

[Covert Rain]

It's childish and petty because it was purely political. Not only is Eastwood a conservative, he had the audacity to speak at the Republican National Convention where he openly mocked Obama. How do you explain Grand Torino getting zero nominations? Not one movie from that year was better than Grand Torino and Eastwood should have gotten both a best director and best actor nomination. But you keep believing otherwise. As for Selma, considering that the president of the Academy is black, any cry of racism is ridiculous.

According to who? Don't get me wrong Grand Tarino was a good movie but more deserving than SM? I don't think so. Better than Fincher, Howard and Van Sant? You are acting like those directors were slouches. Rourke, DiCaprio and Penn, Langella and Pitt were all deserving.

I think the point being made is there is deserving movies and actors that get left out every single year. It doesn't mean they were not as deserving but that happens without fail every single year.

For the record I thought The Dark Knight was the biggest Oscar snub that year for best picture and Nolan for best director. Those two were also equally deserving of anything Eastwood did.

 

[Cheesebeef]

It's childish and petty because it was purely political. Not only is Eastwood a conservative, he had the audacity to speak at the Republican National Convention where he openly mocked Obama. How do you explain Grand Torino getting zero nominations? Not one movie from that year was better than Grand Torino and Eastwood should have gotten both a best director and best actor nomination. But you keep believing otherwise. As for Selma, considering that the president of the Academy is black, any cry of racism is ridiculous.

You completely lost me at Gran Torino for a MULTITUDE of reasons. First, I didn't think it was a great movie. Thought it was solid, but it's not like it was the highest praised movie of the year and got snubbed. It was only 79% on Rotten Tomatoes and I don't remember ANYONE saying it was Oscar worthy. Second, you bring up the RNC Convention in the same breath... As if that was why Torino didn't get noms... But Torino came out TWO YEARS before the empty chair speech. Third, Eastwood's political leanings have been well known FOREVER and he's been nominated multiple times and WON Best Director before so your point is completely moot.

 

[NJCardFan]

According to who? Don't get me wrong Grand Tarino was a good movie but more deserving than SM? I don't think so. Better than Fincher, Howard and Van Sant? You are acting like those directors were slouches. Rourke, DiCaprio and Penn, Langella and Pitt were all deserving.

I think the point being made is there is deserving movies and actors that get left out every single year. It doesn't mean they were not as deserving but that happens without fail every single year.

For the record I thought The Dark Knight was the biggest Oscar snub that year for best picture and Nolan for best director. Those two were also equally deserving of anything Eastwood did.

You can thank Christian Bale and his ridiculous voice acting for that. Had he simply lowered his voice a la every single person who ever played Batman I think it would have been nominated, however, the Academy seems to snub these types of movies hence Star Wars losing out to Annie Hall which wasn't all that good(certainly not the best Woody Allen movie even though Julia was the best picture that year IMO). That said, I'm not the only one who thinks Eastwood's snubs are political.

 

[NJCardFan]

You completely lost me at Gran Torino for a MULTITUDE of reasons. First, I didn't think it was a great movie. Thought it was solid, but it's not like it was the highest praised movie of the year and got snubbed. It was only 79% on Rotten Tomatoes and I don't remember ANYONE saying it was Oscar worthy. Second, you bring up the RNC Convention in the same breath... As if that was why Torino didn't get noms... But Torino came out TWO YEARS before the empty chair speech. Third, Eastwood's political leanings have been well known FOREVER and he's been nominated multiple times and WON Best Director before so your point is completely moot.

Nice try. I never said GT didn't get snubbed because of Eastwood's appearance at the RNC. Never even implied it. And, yes, Eastwood's leanings are known, however, he mocked Obama which is a huge no-no to the left.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Nice try. I never said GT didn't get snubbed because of Eastwood's appearance at the RNC. Never even implied it. And, yes, Eastwood's leanings are known, however, he mocked Obama which is a huge no-no to the left.

"Not only is Eastwood a conservative, he had the audacity to speak at the Republican National Convention where he openly mocked Obama. How do you explain Grand Torino getting zero nominations?"

This is what you wrote... you brought up the convention thing and then asked how do I explain Grand Torino. Logically, it makes sense one thing led to another.

but even if that's not what you meant, you're still implying that Eastwood's political leanings were the reason he was snubbed for Torino, right? How does that square with the fact that he's been nominated previously MULTIPLE times and had multiple best picture winners/best director winners?

 

[Covert Rain]

"Not only is Eastwood a conservative, he had the audacity to speak at the Republican National Convention where he openly mocked Obama. How do you explain Grand Torino getting zero nominations?"

This is what you wrote... you brought up the convention thing and then asked how do I explain Grand Torino. Logically, it makes sense one thing led to another.

but even if that's not what you meant, you're still implying that Eastwood's political leanings were the reason he was snubbed for Torino, right? How does that square with the fact that he's been nominated previously MULTIPLE times and had multiple best picture winners/best director winners?

Exactly. The first comment was a clear statement that is why and the next statement was denial but reiterating the point indirectly?!?!?

Seems pretty clear to me what is being said.

 

[Chaplin]

You can thank Christian Bale and his ridiculous voice acting for that. Had he simply lowered his voice a la every single person who ever played Batman I think it would have been nominated, however, the Academy seems to snub these types of movies hence Star Wars losing out to Annie Hall which wasn't all that good(certainly not the best Woody Allen movie even though Julia was the best picture that year IMO). That said, I'm not the only one who thinks Eastwood's snubs are political.

I know this thread isn't about this, but you are blaming The Dark Knight's Oscar snub on Christian Bale's voice? Seriously?

It was snubbed because the Academy could only put in 5 films -- it was the year before they switched to the 10 film list. The nominations were Milk, The Reader, Frost/Nixon and Benjamin Button, with Slumdog winning. Those first 3 were tailor-made for Oscars and regardless what you thought about Button and Slumdog, I'm not sure the Academy has any grounds to nominate Dark Knight over any of them, not with their track record of nominating superhero movies.

If anything, the reason it was "snubbed" was simply because it was a superhero movie.

 

[Covert Rain]

If anything, the reason it was "snubbed" was simply because it was a superhero movie.

Exactly on. It's only been recent since that movie that they are starting to get some damn respect but not nearly enough from the Oscars. The Oscars are still to "uppity" for my tastes and just because it's a hero flick doesn't mean it should get more respect when it comes to Best Film, screenplay, best director etc.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I know this thread isn't about this, but you are blaming The Dark Knight's Oscar snub on Christian Bale's voice? Seriously?

It was snubbed because the Academy could only put in 5 films -- it was the year before they switched to the 10 film list. The nominations were Milk, The Reader, Frost/Nixon and Benjamin Button, with Slumdog winning. Those first 3 were tailor-made for Oscars and regardless what you thought about Button and Slumdog, I'm not sure the Academy has any grounds to nominate Dark Knight over any of them, not with their track record of nominating superhero movies.

If anything, the reason it was "snubbed" was simply because it was a superhero movie.

Totally agree. TDK was completely snubbed simply because it was a comic book movie, IMO. Gran Torino wasn't even in any conversation that I can remember about the Oscars.

But again, claiming political bias against Eastwood and citing Torino as proof completely ignores that his political views have been known forever and yet he's still be noninated four times for Best Director and won twice.

 

[Rivercard]

TDK was completely snubbed simply because it was a comic book movie, IMO.

There are reasons for that. Superhero movies by nature are not original concepts. The story can be unique to that particular superhero, but the main character's vision and design are already well known to the viewer, and the film has to operate within a certain framework for that character no matter how different the screenplay is compared to other installments. That makes it a tough sell vs oscar worthy films that deliver more overall original human-element concepts.

 

[Cheesebeef]

There are reasons for that. Superhero movies by nature are not original concepts. The story can be unique to that particular superhero, but the main character's vision and design are already well known to the viewer, and the film has to operate within a certain framework for that character no matter how different the screenplay is compared to other installments. That makes it a tough sell vs oscar worthy films that deliver more overall original human-element concepts.

I really don't think that's why it was snubbed though. People were hailing that movie as a crime-drama, something that completely transcended the genre.

 

[Rivercard]

I really don't think that's why it was snubbed though. People were hailing that movie as a crime-drama, something that completely transcended the genre.

What do you think prompted the snub then?

 

[Cheesebeef]

What do you think prompted the snub then?

The Academy is made up mostly of old
People who simply couldn't wrap their head around nominating a Batman movie as best picture.

 

[Cheesebeef]

One thing is for sure... This movie is an absolute juggernaut at the box office. It's making 5 million... During the WEEK... In it's SECOND WEEK. That's ridiculous. This could top out at 400 million domestic or more at this rate.

 

[Rivercard]

One thing is for sure... This movie is an absolute juggernaut at the box office. It's making 5 million... During the WEEK... In it's SECOND WEEK. That's ridiculous. This could top out at 400 million domestic or more at this rate.

Should we assume international receipts will be weak?

 

[Rivercard]

The Academy is made up mostly of old
People who simply couldn't wrap their head around nominating a Batman movie as best picture.

That's very simplistic. But still, I'm not old and I can't fathom it either.