The Plot
Perhaps the most sensationalized and controversial contemporary film in the past two years with regards to Islamophobia, American Sniper (Dir. Clint Eastwood) is a gritty representation of the life of Navy Seal Chris Kyle, the most deadly American sniper in history with a body count totaling over 160. The nationally-acclaimed film follows the life of Kyle as he transitions from a simple Texas ranch-hand and a loving husband to a ruthless warrior who served four tours in Iraq. Kyle returns home from each tour more emotionally scarred than before and he must learn to live with the realities of war in an urban environment with a wife and family.
Chris Kyle: Film vs. Reality
In Clint Eastwood's film, Chris Kyle is portrayed as a genuine American hero for his contribution to our country. It is made clear in the film that Kyle's primary justification for killing so many was his concern for the safety of his fellow troops. In addition, the film makes it seem that he was deeply troubled and emotionally overwhelmed by the fact that he had to kill so many people. However, when you compare the film's representation of Chris Kyle to the book American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History - from which the film drew inspiration - it is evident that Chris Kyle's character in the film differs greatly from that in the autobiography. In short, Chris Kyle's actions in the film are grotesquely simplified and falsely altruistic.
In reality, Chris Kyle seems to have been subject to Islamophobic tendencies. According to an objective response to the film by Ed Schultz, the MSNBC anchor and host of the Ed Show, "the real Chris Kyle was far more complicated than the hero portrayed in Eastwood's movie" (Whitlock). In the autobiography, Chris Kyle referred to those he killed as "savages" and "despicably evil," which demonstrates how he was quick to group all hijab-wearing Arabs as the enemy, thus otherizing and dehumanizing the Iraqi and Islamic community. In a similar manner, the film may have fabricated how tormented Chris Kyle was by his actions. There are several instances in the film in which Chris Kyle, who was played by Bradley Cooper, breaks down crying because he is so emotionally distraught at the fact that he had to kill so many people. The autobiography, however, tells a different story. According to the article "7 Big Lies American Sniper Is Telling America" by Zain Jilad, Kyle is quoted as saying things such as "I wish I could have killed more" and "I loved what I did. I still do.... I had the time of my life being a Seal" in his autobiography. Clearly, the real Chris Kyle was not in any way remorseful of the fact that he had to kill so many Iraqi's; in fact, he only wishes that he could have killed more. |
Social Media Response
The release of the film saw a huge response in both Islamophobic backlash and rational denouncement of the ideas portrayed in the movie. Social media served as the principal mean of the sharing of Islamophobic viewpoints, especially on Twitter. Amidst the anti-Islam firestorm that American Sniper sparked, there were a few rational voices amongst the hundreds that denounced the film as faulty and propaganda-like. Prominent names such as Seth Rogan and Jesse Ventura publicly criticized the film, and many college students around the nation boycotted the screening of the film on their respective campuses.