American Sniper: In the cross hairs

The Washington Post’s Terrence McCoy says the movie has brought back on American tables debates over Kyle’s career. “But anyone who mentions such holes in the Kyle narrative or critiques the ethos under which he operated does so at his or her own peril,” he writes, citing the example of journalist Rania Khalek, who received death threats. She said that Kyle was consumed by “unrepentant bloodlust” fuelled by “hatred, bigotry”.

After posting an article critical of Kyle, the Left-wing website Alternet commented: “This kicked off an endless flood in our Twitter mentions of outraged right-wing military worshippers who’ve whipped themselves into a hateful frenzy out of blind obedience to a mass killer.”

Actors and filmmakers too have had to retract their comments. After The Interview actor Seth Rogen said American Sniper reminded him of  a Nazi propaganda film within Inglourious Basterds, he was met with this tweet: “Amazing considering guys like Kyle are the reason you’re not sitting in a N Korean prison”.

Michael Moore tweeted: “My uncle killed by sniper in WW2. We were taught snipers were cowards. Will shoot u in the back. Snipers aren’t heroes. And invaders r worse.” He too retracted, praising Bradley Cooper’s performance as Kyle.