(I am SO disappointed) Michelle Obama gives 'American Sniper' two thumbs up

[kpete]

Michelle Obama gives 'American Sniper' two thumbs up
Ann Oldenburg, USA TODAY 2:40 p.m. EST January 30, 2015


WASHINGTON — Michelle Obama had high praise for American Sniper on Friday morning.

Not from a critical standpoint, per se, but for the film's complex portrayal of veteran Chris Kyle.

The first lady was unveiling a program designed to recognize film and TV content that accurately portrays veterans and military families called 6 Certified, part of a national veteran campaign, Got Your 6, which is a military term meaning, "I've got your back."

...........

"I know there have been critics," said Mrs. Obama of Sniper. "But more often than not, this film touches on many of the emotions and experiences I have heard first-hand from military families over these past few years. This movie reflects those wrenching stories I've heard, the complex journeys that our men and women in uniform endure, the complicated world, the decisions they are tasked with every day, the stresses of balancing love of family with love of country, and the challenges of transitioning back home."


(more)
http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2015/01/30/michelle-obama-bradley-cooper-veterans-american-sniper-6/22591537/



I respectfully submit this letter to FLOTUS:
And ANYONE Else Who Supports This Movie:
PLEASE read here:
http://www.adc.org/fileadmin/ADC/Pdfs/Cooper_ADC_AmericanSniper_Letter.pdf

Or Better Yet, Do What mr peter did
READ THE BOOK (this is NO hero).

also:
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2015/01/american-sniper-anti-muslim-threats-skyrocket-in-wake-of-films-release/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/24/american-sniper-anti-muslim-threats_n_6537950.html
http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-30972690

[djean111]

1. Feh. Just a movie. I won't see it.

And I cannot imagine doing or seeing or reading anything at all just because a First Lady recommends it. That would be ridiculous.

[bigwillq]

2. I thought it was good, not great

from a pure entertainment/cinematic experience.

I thought Bradley Cooper was outstanding. I disliked Sienna Miller; thought she was kind of awful. I thought the action sequences would be a bit more exciting.

I have no issue with how they portrayed Kyle--it's a movie, not a documentary, so I really didn't care that they might have skipped over or failed to mention some things about Kyle's real-life behavior.

I thought it showed that war is hell during combat and when one returns home from war.

I would probably give it two thumbs up as well. I would give it a B/B+ or 3 stars.

[JaneyVee]

5. I completely agree.

If you can get passed the inaccuracies, like you said, it's not a documentary, it's a good piece of film making.

[hlthe2b]

3. I haven't seen it, but it seems a lot of varied people are finding great complexity in it...

enough so that they find both aspects to deplore and those to laud.

That said, Michelle Obama's comments will likely take the wind out of the sails of many an obnoxious RWer (and Eastwood himself, I'd imagine).

[Fred Sanders]

4. On the contrary, she is pointing out the movie is......a movie. A fictional movie loosely based on

one persons real struggles set in a modified factual framework.

A fictional movie well done.

She know exactly what the movie is, fact and fiction mixed together, an excellent yarn.

If folks conclude both the Obama's are not aware the basic intent of the movie was to attempt to rewrite history to try to whitewash Bush and company, those folks would be wrong.

Because it is just a movie.

[Thinkingabout]

6. Can you imagine the FOX reviews if she had stated otherwise. She has been an advocate for our

military and their families. Whether you agree with the movie, have not seem it myself but may contain an insight into what troops face in their assignments.

[Bluenorthwest]

7. Actually, Mrs Obama's comments are 'from a critical standpoint' while most comments on DU about it

simply are not. For one thing, she saw the film which is the first requirement of taking a critical standpoint. The author of this piece, who thinks addressing the portrayal of the experiences of the central character is not 'criticism per se' does not know what criticism is.
The OP suggests that to review the film one should instead review the book. That's absurd, to review the book read the book. To review the film, see the film. And Mrs Obama did not call Kyle a hero at all, that's a bullshit claim if ever there was one.

[gwheezie]

8. Haven't seen the movie or read the book

So I won't comment on the film except to say it's a movie. I do agree with Mrs Obama that very few of us have any experience being a soldier in Iraq or Afghanistan. Let's be honest most of America supported this war and elected politicians that clearly said they were going to wage this war. What ever our soldiers do they do it in our name. Why both for and anti war people pick out this guy as hero or villian seems naive to me. Although while alive Kyle did seem to want to place himself in the public arena.

[lonestarnot]

9. I'm so glad someone gives a rat's ass about such nonsense.

Not.

[olddots]

10. things aren't so simple

She didn't do some dumb thumbs up sign , she made a reasonable comment that showed empathy.

[Paladin]

11. Simmer down. The right wing will be a lot more upset than the left over this..... (nt)

[Octafish]

12. ''I've got your six.''

Must be a Carlyle Group slogan.

[Malraiders]

13. Not surprising at all. She liked General Stanley McCrystal too,

The punk who lied to Pat Tillman's mother about the friendly fire that put an end to a real hero's life and ignored the fact that some wanted an investigation into the way Tillman died because it looked to be an intentional killing.

Political claptrap.

[yeoman6987]

14. She is so classy! I love our First Lady!

She has great tastes in movies. I loved the movie too. Ah. Vindication from the top. Great day!

[kpete]

15. READ THIS

http://www.adc.org/fileadmin/ADC/Pdfs/Cooper_ADC_AmericanSniper_Letter.pdf

please!
kp

[yeoman6987]

16. Yieks! Not good.

Hopefully they are going after those that turned to that type of behavior. Put them in jail if they are going to act like that.