Fake war, real life enemies?

Rating: 9/10 (25 January 2015)

I read tons of reviews for and against this film before finally watching it myself. Let me start off by saying I would consider myself liberal, who is against capital punishment, and for gun control. However I am equally against torture, government secrecy, and immunity from punishment for starting unprecedential war. I am also for freedom of speech, and advocate a presidential pardon for Chelsea Manning, Assange, and Snowden and any whistle-blowers that help keep government on it's toes. Regardless, and despite the fact that I'm not even a fan of Bradley Cooper, "American Sniper" is a great film! Personally I don't feel this film is about any particular issue. Lack of evidence for weapons of mass destruction etc. is irrelevant in this story.
This is a movie about one man's story, and some of what he experienced. He is neither the good or the bad guy, and even the "enemy" is not only "bad". I am truly amazed how many people on the left or the right are using this guy's story as some kind of political angle. Sure there is some "American Pride" behind the intentions of Chris Kyle going into battle, but those who think he's a hero because he was protecting US citizens are sadly mistaken. He was nothing more than an honorable man doing his job, and protecting fellow soldiers as best he could in a dirty war that costs thousands of lives where both sides believe they are in the right. It's not even about religion, and it's not even about murder, although eliminating threat to his fellow man was his job, and he was good at it, and took pride in it, as anyone who is good with their skills would be. Whether they are an actor, lawyer, doctor, musician, architect, what have you. Some people also tend to get a little arrogant if they let their accolades go to their head. From what I've read about Mr. Kyle that may have been the case, but I think he also turned towards being a positive role model, and was probably a fairly sane individual despite all he'd experienced.
That's all this film is about, it's called "American Sniper" because that's what this guy was which is just as "American" as an American Psycho or America's Top Model.
Clint Eastwood's film is not propaganda. It is a story well told, and filmed in a way that takes the audience on a partial journey into the world and life of this man. Now that I have finally seen it, I think that Million Dollar Baby, and Gran Torino can take second and third place behind this new top film in Clint's directing highlights. "Flags Of Our Fathers" was also not "pro-war", and neither is this movie.
If anything it's a great thing that many people of different walks of like are seeing a film like this, and it is opening the eyes of the average world citizen as to what is going on "over there" as we tend to try and shut out all the deaths caused by war in our daily lives.
There are many bold statements made in subtle ways in this movie such as Chris' frustration about "going to a shopping mall, while soldiers are dying, and horrible things are happening in another part of the world" as he states just before his wife gives birth.
Pause for thought, and discuss what this means to you as an average citizen going about your daily routine, free from fear, free to go shopping without getting bombed.
In the end this is not a movie for the Republicans, Democrats, Lefties, or Nazis. It is a movie for anyone who wants to have a better understanding what soldiers do, and what we in the Western Society are doing to ourselves when we argue about who is allowed to do what in a "free" society. This film does not glorify war, or killing other human beings whether Chris considers them "savages" is not the point.
The fact that Chris was killed by another soldier while planning to help with therapeutic training is not poetic justice, it only adds to the tragedy of what happens when a human mind is broken, and we callously avoid doing something about this problem. Especially when we think having a gun is the solution.
Sometimes I wonder if the people who see this as propaganda have even watched the movie, or only read the title, viewed the trailer, and gone straight to IMDb to condemn it. And for those who cheer on the killing in the film, I can only feel sorrow.
Realize that Clint Eastwood has a pattern for making contemplative melancholy films including even the one about J. Edgar Hoover, then you know this is not a movie to rally together and sing "We Are The Champions" to. 'Nuff said.