American Sniper: Production Information and News (Includes Box Office News)

[higashimori]

 I saw '' Limitless ''  recently.  It was the first Bradley Cooper's movie I saw and I did not like much. 
Bradley has very beautiful blue eyes but unfortunately I found that with his face.....his profile, his pointed chin does not fit with his beautiful eyes! Weird!!... In fact I did not feel very well ... 

So '' American Sniper '', as I do not like this kind of movie, I'm afraid that I would not want to go see this movie of Mr. Eastwood for the first time .....

[AKA23]

 I like that the project will be filming in Morocco. I think filming there will give the movie an authenticity that it wouldn't have otherwise. Due to the instability in both nations, it wouldn't have been possible to film in Afghanistan or Iraq, so Morocco is a good option. I'm not a huge fan of Bradley Cooper, but I think he is a good actor, and hope that he will be a  good choice for this role.

I must confess though, I feel that the whole premise of this project is incredibly disturbing. Is it just me, or do others find it pretty disturbing that Eastwood is choosing to film a movie which celebrates someone who has been responsible for killing over 150 people? To me, this is not something to be celebrated. It's something that we should all be very sad about. I don't really want to see a movie about someone who has been responsible for the systematic slaughtering of at least 150 people. I understand that it's important to defend our military and fight insurgents, but understanding something and celebrating the man who was responsible for it are two very different things to me.

To me, this whole project seems very inconsistent with the view of war that Eastwood has portrayed in "Flags of Our Fathers" and especially "Letters from Iwo Jima." The Japanese were our enemy in WWII, but Eastwood still sought to humanize them and made a very affecting film about the horrors of war and the universality of the humanity of everyone fighting in World War II. This project seems diametrically opposed to that. Chris Kyle didn't humanize those he fought against, he demonized them. 

Chris Kyle's purpose wasn't to humanize the enemy, it was to slaughter them. This doesn't appear to be a movie that questions Chris Kyle's role in the war. I haven't read the memoir upon which this is based, but from reviews I have read about it, it doesn't appear to take a critical look at what is being done. It is a celebration of those activities. I don't really understand what attracted Eastwood to this project. I can't believe that this film and "Letters from Iwo Jima" are going to be made by the same director. The view of war and those who fight in these wars just isn't consistent at all.

[KC]

I haven't read the memoir upon which this is based ...

Nor have you seen the film that will be based on it. Can't we just for once withhold judgment until we have something concrete in hand to judge?

[AKA23]

Nor have you seen the film that will be based on it. Can't we just for once withhold judgment until we have something concrete in hand to judge?

I don't have to see the film to know that the central premise of the book, which is a celebration of Kyle's role in slaughtering 150 people, is not going to change. I also don't need to see the film to know that Kyle's role was not to humanize those he fought against. Do some research into what Kyle has said about the Iraqi and Afghani people which he slaughtered. It's dehumanizing, not empathetic. While I understand the desire for you personally to reserve judgment until you see the film, these really are not arguable points. To me, centering a film on someone like Kyle is inconsistent with the view of war that Eastwood has taken in his other films.

[Dan Dassow]

Nor have you seen the film that will be based on it. Can't we just for once withhold judgment until we have something concrete in hand to judge?

Based upon Mr. Eastwood's past choices, I am hopeful he went forward with this project because it does not glorify the sniper's behavior, but provides insights into what motivated someone to become a sniper.

[KC]

I don't have to see the film to know that the central premise of the book, which is a celebration of Kyle's role in slaughtering 150 people, is not going to change. I also don't need to see the film to know that Kyle's role was not to humanize those he fought against. Do some research into what Kyle has said about the Iraqi and Afghani people which he slaughtered. It's dehumanizing, not empathetic. While I understand the desire for you personally to reserve judgment until you see the film, these really are not arguable points. To me, centering a film on someone like Kyle is inconsistent with the view of war that Eastwood has taken in his other films.

Maybe the intent is to examine the character and state of mind of a person who celebrates killing and dehumanizes the killed, and the historical and social circumstances that make that not only possible, but in fact the norm, in those all too frequent convulsions of the social fabric called "wars"?

Eastwood himself has participated in not a few films in which killing was celebrated and the killed were just bodies to fall on cue, or, perhaps worse, just grotesques demanding to be eliminated. He consistently has said he was not "atoning" for his cinematic past with a film like Unforgiven. But perhaps there is more to be examined here?

Based upon Mr. Eastwood's past choices, I am hopeful he went forward with this project because it does not glorify the sniper's behavior, but provides insights into what motivated someone to become a sniper.

Very well put, Dan Dassow.

[Christopher]

Based upon Mr. Eastwood's past choices, I am hopeful he went forward with this project because it does not glorify the sniper's behavior, but provides insights into what motivated someone to become a sniper.

That's what I was thinking, though this is put better than I probably would have. I don't know much about the man or the project, but I wouldn't automatically think it was going to be some sort of celebration. I'd guess Eastwood just wants to tell this story, and the audience will probably have some room to decide how we feel about it.

[AKA23]

Maybe the intent is to examine the character and state of mind of a person who celebrates killing and dehumanizes the killed, and the historical and social circumstances that make that not only possible, but in fact the norm, in those all too frequent convulsions of the social fabric called "wars"?

Eastwood himself has participated in not a few films in which killing was celebrated and the killed were just bodies to fall on cue, or, perhaps worse, just grotesques demanding to be eliminated. He consistently has said he was not "atoning" for his cinematic past with a film like Unforgiven. But perhaps there is more to be examined here?

I do agree that examining the character and state of mind of Kyle would be consistent with Eastwood's approach to filmmaking. You, Christopher, and Dan have made good points but this rationale sounds a lot like what I heard when "The Wolf of Wall Street" was made. The stated intent was supposedly to show all the debauchery the main character was involved in as a cautionary tale, but the practical impact of the film was to glorify the behavior. That's how it felt to many who watched Scorsese's film. Since even a cursory reading of the source material  yields many instances of Kyle denigrating and disparaging both those he fought against as well as the indigenous people, I think it's incredibly naive to suggest that the film is going to be any different, but we will have to see I guess. I think the film will show the costs and consequences of the war on Kyle's family, since that is in the source material, but I think it's pretty unlikely that it will depict anything more than blatant caricatures of the people he fought against. Given Eastwood's sensitivity to depicting realistic portrayals of American adversaries in the past, I find that to be disappointing and regrettable. As a huge admirer of Eastwood, I hope that I am wrong, and if that turns out to be the case, I will revise my judgment.

[KC]

I don't think it's "incredibly naive" to say that no one knows what a movie, book or anything else will be like before it's finished, and that has nothing to do with the "stated intent" of the creator. Things don't always turn out as intended, even for their creators. 

Nor do I see any reason to be disappointed and feel regrets about an experience I haven't had as yet, or to form a judgment about something that doesn't as yet exist. It just seems to make life simpler not to clutter up my mind with all sorts of judgments and opinions about things I don't know. I have enough trouble worrying about the things I do know.

[AKA23]

I don't think it's "incredibly naive" to say that no one knows what a movie, book or anything else will be like before it's finished, and that has nothing to do with the "stated intent" of the creator. Things don't always turn out as intended, even for their creators. 

Nor do I see any reason to be disappointed and feel regrets about an experience I haven't had as yet, or to form a judgment about something that doesn't as yet exist. It just seems to make life simpler not to clutter up my mind with all sorts of judgments and opinions about things I don't know. I have enough trouble worrying about the things I do know.

I understand your point of view, and I respect what you are saying. I agree that it does make life simpler not to make judgments in advance of seeing something. You will probably live a lot longer than I do because you don't do that! On the other hand, these comments are not without foundation. I have seen interviews with Kyle, and I have read some of what he has said about the people he fought against. To me, it doesn't seem like much of a stretch to assume that the tone of the source material will likely carry over to the movie, and to me the source material doesn't fill me with confidence. I agree that it's important to keep an open mind but I also think concerns like mine are legitimate.

I believe that since we are dealing with real people in an actual conflict who are affected, that filmmakers have a heightened responsibility when depicting this conflict to depict it accurately, and to be somewhat sensitive to the way those involved in the conflict are portrayed. I suppose it is possible that Eastwood will tone down Kyle's arrogance and might soften his one-dimensional characterization of those he was fighting against, but I don't think that that's a foregone conclusion either. I suspect that if another country made a movie which centered around one of their soldier's killing 150 of our citizens which heralded those killings as a great accomplishment, many on this board would likely not be so supportive of that project.

[Christopher]

I wouldn't imagine the portrayal would be toned down or softened. I could see this being like Flags of Our Fathers where Eastwood just told the story and the audience was left to decide what we thought about it, which is what I mentioned before but without making the reference to the earlier movie.

[antonis]

clint eastwood burst into tears during casting call

CLINT Eastwood burst into tears when he held a casting call for actors who are military vets to audition for his new American Sniper film, starring Bradley Cooper.

The 83-year-old Hollywood legend apparently isn’t afraid to show a little bit of emotion.

“Clint wanted men who’d experienced the real thing, so he sat all the actor/vets in a circle, then asked them to relate their war stories, one by one,” a source said.

“After about 40 minutes of intently listening to tales of combat kills and bomb strikes – and how they’d been so haunted by experiences in war zones like Afghanistan that some had contemplated suicide – Clint, a vet from the Korean War era, actually began crying!

“Getting up from his seat, the star/director went around the circle, giving all the guys huge hugs – and several joked that their casting call had turned into one great therapy session!”

http://www.showbizspy.com/article/270583/clint-eastwood-burst-into-tears-during-casting-call.html

[AKA23]

I question the validity of this report. This really doesn't sound like something Eastwood would do.

[ceinjapan]

Have some one already post this?
Now they are filiming in Morocco!
http://www.moroccotribune.com/list-culture/3475-clint-eastwood-and-his-american-sniper-together-in-morocco.html#.U0o6GVdFvKc

[KC]

^^ The above story appears to be badly translated from the Arabic, but this much is fairly clear:

Clint Eastwood tended to question the events that marked the history of this man and tried to reveal the hidden aspects of his personality.

Thanks for posting, ceinjapan!

[The Man With No Aim]

Every time I have killed a cottonmouth snake, I have grieved because I have seen how the living creature suffered great agony and anguish. But my social contract with my fellow human race, and my own body, demanded it.

Twice I have killed by stabbing cottonmouths in the neck with a garden spade. Their agony is terrible and is very obvious. A vicious person will delight in causing a living creature such grief. A kindly person will suffer great grief in their own soul.

I once shot a cottonmouth snake in my house, just to watch it die. With my 44, would you believe it. A 44 really makes a show inside a house.

War is Hell. War is pure $#!t. Killing any other living creature is awful. But sometimes there is a greater good that demands it. Like a war. Or a harmful snake roaming through the neighborhood.

Every human is responsible for their own salvation according to St. Paul who claimed to be instructed directly by Jesus. Each one of us is responsible to understand violence and figure out if we like to do it or if we dont like to do it.

Perhaps Mr. Eastwood may simply intend to show us what violence is, so that we can then figure out if we like it or if we dont like it.

[KC]

Since shooting is starting on this film this month, the Mods thought it was time to the thread title to American Snitper: Production Information and News.

[KC]

Has this bit of casting information been posted yet?

http://www.thewrap.com/dear-white-people-star-kyle-gallner-joins-bradley-cooper-american-sniper-exclusive/

Fresh off the hit Sundance movie “Dear White People,” Kyle Gallner has been cast alongside Bradley Cooper in Clint Eastwood's “American Sniper,” TheWrap has learned. ...

Gallner will play Winston, an Arkansas native who earns the nickname “Goat” when his first kill in Iraq is an errant goat.

Jake McDorman, Luke Grimes and Cory Hardrict will play Cooper's comrades, while Sienna Miller will play his wife. The film is also expected to co-star several real-life Navy SEALs, including Kyle's friend Kevin “Dauber” Lacz.

[AKA23]

I have no idea whether Bradley Cooper is a good choice for this role but at the very least we know that he will look the part!

According to E! online, this film started shooting today. I thought it had begun shooting earlier.

http://www.eonline.com/news/534157/bradley-cooper-leaves-gym-looking-super-buff-see-the-pic?utm_source=eonline&utm_medium=rssfeeds&utm_campaign=imdb_topstories

[Macpherson]

Hi...I believe they started filming in Morocco at the start of this month...various twitter feeds verify this.......they are now back in the US to continue filming here...