American Sniper: The Autobiography Of American Sniper

The film American Sniper is a supposed biographical film of Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle. It is inspired from his book, American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History, and interviews from numerous friends and family. Initially focused on Kyle’s early life and later motivation to join the military, American Sniper then leads the audience through his four tours in Iraq, which are contrasted with his slowly worsening relationship with his wife and children, which is explained with his noted absence and untreated Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). While the director, Clint Eastwood, claims the film had “no political aspect” in its portrayal of Kyle’s actions, the film clearly appeals to justify the Iraq …show more content…
The impetus for Chris Kyle to enter the military and later fight in Iraq is expressed through him viewing news footage of embassy bombings and a 9/11 broadcast. The violence against the United States is therefore the reason that Kyle is in Iraq as a military sniper, the film explaining it as a just vengeance for the American causalities from the terrorist groups such as Al Qaeda. After Chris Kyle’s death off-screen, the epilogue of American Sniper and its initial ending credits are footage from the Kyle’s funeral and its procession in 2013. Other than these instances, the film is entirely based off of Chris Kyle’s autobiographical book, whose title “American Sniper” the film borrowed. So while these personal accounts are not unbiased, the viewer is not informed that American Sniper is based on a man’s …show more content…
Other critics argue its controversy is due to the films focus on the Iraq War, when in present day its legitimacy is still argued upon. Many film critics argue the film is either against or supports war, the debate heavy with incendiary political connotations. Erik Karin from Forbes discuss how the film, told from “a very specific perspective” of Chris Kyle, focuses on one soldiers particular struggles, not the politics of the situation he is situated in. The author argues that American Sniper does not work as a pro-war message, as the protagonist is flawed and appears to not care about politics, instead is only concerned in defending his country. Robert Gordon, a SALON writer, disagrees fiercely, stating that “taking a conflict” such as the Iraq War, where there are intense, unavoidable political connotations and then centering the film on a single man then eliminates the context from the story, which Gordon believes “is a political act in itself.” Both sides argue well on the meaning and political meaning, or lack of it, in the film. Yet personally the view is that American Sniper is a film that intentionally or otherwise argues on the righteousness of the United States military’s actions during the Iraq War. Chris Kyle, despite how humanized he is in the film with his scenes