I have problems war movies in general, to my mind there is nothing glorious in death and destruction. I'll read books from reputed authors and organizations. Most of these films end up being propaganda in one way or another, dependent on the directors world view. A very few manage to say something pertinent, say Schindler's List, The Pianist, or even Saving Private Ryan as examples.
I have even more problems with the concept of making a movie when it concerns a war that was waged [and still being waged] based on clearly false premises. There is no way on earth that you can get around this fact with a film. The other detail is those that die in the film [unless its an heroic death] go the way of so many extras, killed in the name of entertainment. The Romans had the circuses, we have digitized this bloodbath and made it somehow harmless to many. It's a just film goddammit. The problem is when you make it about current events those eliminated extras represent real people with families of their own, who still mourn for their loss.
When by necessity for your home audience you make the killer the hero and negate those killed to background noise you are well and truly in the realms of propaganda. The problem with our films is that they are seen around the world and our heroes may not seem quite so heroic to others we have bereaved.
Take this view of American Sniper:
Hollywood shoots Arabs: The movie
Art and propaganda share an intimate relationship. Particularly today in the US, where the wartime film stands as a sacred genre - intimately depicting everyday Joes plucked from mundane middle America, then planted within the perils of a foreign battleground where they become larger-than-life heroes.
"American Sniper" is far more than merely a character study. The main protagonist, Chris Kyle, is an American everyman, who thoroughly embodies the utter disdain for Muslims which is endemic - and intensifying - in the US today. Further, Kyle views his tour in Iraq as an opportunity to avenge the 9/11 terrorist attacks, reducing patriotism into a blood vendetta against a populace utterly disconnected and disassociated from that attack.
Obviously some of the arguments [racism, incitement to hatred etc] used against the film echo those against Charlie Hebdo. My reply is freedom of speech is to be cherished, also the freedom to ignore equally so, hence I don't generally watch war movies.
I would also say that a film or a comic pales into insignificance when compared to the reality of war, terrorism and carnage in today's world. Hatred also goes far deeper than a mere cinematic display.Would I rather films and comics that try to heal the wounds, of course I would, they would be a much more productive use of time and money.
So I'll use my right to ignore and hope that more choose to do the same. I will also save my thoughts for all those hurt, bereaved and killed in all of this chaos.
Just a thought.
8:54 AM PT: H/T Daddy Bartholomew pointed me to the Matt Taibbi review that I admit I had not read until now:
http://www.rollingstone.com/...
Well that seems to fit most populist US movies at the moment. Getting used to British and French villains, nice change by Clint [snark] America Fuck yeah.