Photo credit: movieweb.com

American Sniper: A Closer Look at Clint Eastwood’s War Drama

Hollywood superstar Clint Eastwood collaborated with actor Bradley Cooper to honor the life of distinguished veteran Chris Kyle in the 2014 war film American Sniper. This poignant narrative explores Kyle’s remarkable military career as a U.S. Navy SEAL sniper and his tumultuous personal life post-service after completing four tours in Iraq. Tragically, Kyle’s life ended in 2013 when he was murdered by a former Marine, just a year after his gripping autobiography became a bestseller, occupying The New York Times Best Seller list for 37 weeks.

Despite widespread acclaim, American Sniper stirred controversy, notably due to the questionable choice of using a prop baby instead of a real infant. The intended emotional exchange between Cooper’s character and the motionless doll elicited laughter rather than tears, igniting a debate about this creative misstep. Here, we delve deeper into the details.

Clint Eastwood’s Harrowing War Drama

American Sniper chronicles the storied life of U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, whose four tours during the Iraq War positioned him as the deadliest sniper in American military history, with 255 confirmed kills. Directed by the iconic Clint Eastwood and scripted by Jason Hall (Thank You for Your Service, Gran Turismo), the film is based on Kyle’s best-selling autobiography which has sold over 1.2 million copies.

Kyle’s life was cut short on February 2, 2013, when he was murdered while trying to assist a fellow veteran struggling with PTSD, all at just 38 years of age. Prior to his untimely death, Cooper had already committed to producing and starring in the film adaptation, originally intended to be directed by Steven Spielberg, who withdrew over creative differences. Subsequently, Eastwood stepped in to helm the project.

Upon its release on December 25, 2014, American Sniper attained the unprecedented milestone of being the first R-rated film to surpass $500 million in global box office earnings, amassing a total of $547.4 million. The film received critical acclaim and was recognized as one of the Top Ten Films of the year by the National Board of Review, also earning six Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, and taking home an Oscar for Best Sound Editing. Many critics were stunned that it did not secure more accolades, attributing this to the infamous faux baby used in a key scene.

An Infamous Fake Baby Causes an Uproar

In a pivotal moment in American Sniper, the artificial prop emerges during a heartfelt conversation between Cooper’s character, Chris, and his wife Taya (Sienna Miller). As Taya hands Chris the baby, it’s clear that the prop is an awkward plastic imitation, disrupting the intended emotional resonance of the scene.

Even a skilled actor like Cooper struggled to make the lifeless doll appear authentic, as he grappled with how to hold it convincingly while the unsettling sound of a baby crying played in the background, obviously highlighted the artificiality. Critics were quick to scorn the prop, with comments labeling it as “laughably fake” and asserting that they had “never seen so many fake babies in one film.”

Journalist Mark Harris remarked on the plastic baby, suggesting that its inclusion would be justified by Eastwood’s most ardent supporters for years to come. In response to the backlash, screenwriter Jason Hall humorously noted that the real infants slated for the scene were unable to perform, leading to the decision to utilize the doll. Despite the controversies, American Sniper resonated with audiences and critics, though the prop did diminish the scene’s emotional impact.

Fandango critic Dave Karger attributed the film’s limited Oscar success to the faux baby, stating, “The reason why American Sniper is not going to win is because of the plastic baby.” This prediction proved to be accurate, as the film won only for Best Sound Editing and did not clinch more prestigious awards like Best Picture or Best Adapted Screenplay. Cooper himself later joked about the bizarre decision to employ a non-animate baby on a talk show, expressing disbelief at the use of a plastic prop and mockingly suggested that it could have been cheaper to CGI the hand movements needed for the scene.

Stream American Sniper on Netflix.

Source
movieweb.com