The document provides an in-depth summary and analysis of the film American Sniper. It discusses the film's production details, plot, themes, and characters. Specifically:
- The film was directed by Clint Eastwood and starred Bradley Cooper as Chris Kyle, a Navy SEAL sniper with 160 confirmed kills who was killed stateside.
- Key themes examined include the glorification of war and violence, loyalty to country over family, masculinity, and racism in its portrayal of Iraqi enemies.
- Scenes discussed include Kyle's difficult Navy training and his first kills on his initial tour in Iraq, which are portrayed in a close-up still image from the film.
- The analysis considers
2. Context
The gripping film American Sniper was brought to us by Warner Bros and was in association with Village Roadshow
pictures. On the production side that helped create the film involved Mad Chance, Joint Effort and Malpaso Productions.
The film was made in 2014 but came to the UK screens on the 16th of January 2015. The director of this amazing film was
Clint Eastwood and behind him acting in the film was Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller and Kyle Gallner. They're just a few of
the names that were involved in the creation. But the main character in film was Bradley Cooper. Bradley plays a Navy
S.E.A.L sniper called Chris Kyles and this film was dedicated to him as he became an American legend for his time in the
military. The other characters that make multiple appearance's in the film are his wife, kids, brother and army friends. The
character that Bradley plays had incredible accuracy and saved multiple lives during his time serving. But sadly he was killed
back home in the states by a veteran who he was trying to help. This film helped shed some light on a such a dark subject
such as war, death and even the issues with gun crime in America now. The film really makes Bradley look like such a good
person and like I said before an American hero. But as you find out in the film, he has to do and experience some that
nobody should go through. To wrap it up the film he an action packed/emotional roller coaster and I personally really
enjoyed watching it over and over again.
There is also a book about the story of the American Sniper, which I personally haven't read but may do so in the future.
The writers of the book are Jason Hall, Chris Kyle, Scott McEwen and Jim DeFelice. The film was a success and got some
very good reviews. It did so well that the film even won an Oscar for Best Achievement in Sound and Editing along side with
other 24 wins in Best Movie of the year, Film Music, Best Actor in an action movie and 42 nominations in Best motion
picture, Best performance by leading actor. From what I've just said you can tell that the film did well but the popularity
ratings were very positive and was generally a success.
3. Clint Eastwood was born in May 31st 1930 in San Francisco. Clint himself, actually enrolled in Los Angeles college and had a
stint at Fort Ord Military Reservation but ended up dropping out to follow a career in acting. Throughout his career he
became well known for his acting in multiple cowboy western films, army and action packed film. His break through was in
'The man with no name' which was in a trilogy of spaghetti westerns. This was during the 60s and was only showed in Italy.
During the 70s actually turned out to be the busiest for Clint with him staring in thrillers, more westerns and began to branch
out into comedies. Then for the rest of his career he has a lot of experience within the film industry and action style films
which really made him a good director for the film. He comes across as a very patriotic man and you can see it in his work and
especially within the film as the Americans are seen as the good guys going across to Iraq to do a good job and protect their
country.
Bradley Charles Cooper was born January 5th 1975 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
He graduated from the Honors English program at Georgetown University.
Shortly after that, he moved to New York and got himself involved in
Masters of Fine Arts program at the Actors Studio Drama School at New School
University. This is where he developed his stage work. He has had a really successful
Career in acting and fits the roll really well within the film with some similar
connections with Chris Kyle. For example, There is some good awareness of PTSD and
Bradley Cooper himself has struggled with thoughts of suicide which could've helped
Him get into that frame of mind. Also within the film Chris Kyle, almost prioritises his
work over his wife and family, then with Bradley himself has been divorced from his
wife which again could try and help him relate on that side of the character.
4.
5. Themes
After doing a bit more research into what main themes appear in the film, I do recognize where the themes come up during
the film. Just like I mentioned briefly in the my context section, how the military is glorified through most of the film. The
violence itself is seen very positive that you're supporting your country and doing it for the place where you have been born.
He himself mentions a lot how much he enjoys his work in the navy S.E.A.L.S, that is maybe why the whole idea of war is
glorified due to the film being shot in his image and honor. An example of why he enjoyed his work in the navy S.E.A.L.S is that
he becomes loved by many people get know him and his legend begins to spread throughout the army. When he is out in the
field the other soldiers feel invincible because of how many lives he has saved. Even though I've mentioned how much some
parts of the film is glorified, the war on terror has a massive part also and how mum damage war can course. Chris Kyle in the
film shows off how chaotic his time was out on his tour.
Another theme that pops up in the film frequently, is where his loyalty's are. If they're with his family or country, so this brings
an almost war element to this situation. Chris throughout the film mentions a few times/makes it obvious that his loyalty's are
more towards his country and him fighting to protect his country. The example of this, is you can see during the film how
many more scenes there are of his tours in the army compared to when he comes home with his family. Also the lengths of
the scenes of when he isn't home with his family are way longer compared to when they become re united. Another obvious
example of the point of what I had just made is when he is home in the states he almost cant escape the war. What I mean by
this is that he is either watching the TV checking up on what he is missing out on or getting some really bad PTSD. This gives
off an effect of him enjoying his work too much that now he cant even escape from its grasps. Even though he is pulled back
in, at the end of the film he has such a traumatic, he breaks free of that horrible grasp and tells his wife that he's coming
home for good.
6.
7. A very key and obvious theme that occurs throughout the film
constantly is machoism. Throughout there is loads of aggressive
behaviour along side with danger is glorified, like I have mentioned
several times before. There is a lot of competitiveness which gives
off that masculine stereo type pf the army. The scene are heavily
crowded by only men and then that creates a man orientated
environment implemented into the film. There are multiple
examples of what I have just mentioned that I could pick out of the
film but I would say the one that captures all of those elements I've
just mentioned. That example would be when Chris Kyle goes
through his navy training. When it shows his journey of constant
pain, hurt and persistence he stuck to being a man, because that’s
what real men do they fight through pain and never give up. That’s
the stereo type, but this scene also shows a key factor of machoism
which would be brotherhood. It shows off the emotional
attachment that you make once you become life long friends with
someone, bound together through that brutal training. Also in the
film, Chris Kyle has that same passion to always wanting to help
more and push his efforts further. This brings in that aggression
and competitiveness and being a real man. Throughout all of this
painful experience, its celebrated in a positive way that they have
succeeded. All these elements are shown and people are taken
thorough these emotions because that’s what is expected when
they're serving their country.
8. Not to stereo type America but they do have large amounts of racism
now and I feel that the main hatred today has come from wars. Either
over in Iraq or Afghanistan the hate has generated from multiple wars
and racism is shown in American Sniper. The view point in the film is
very clear on that the American soldiers are human but the enemies are
less then everyone else. A very good example of this would be that
Chris Kyle refers to the enemy as 'savages'
which dehumanises the Iraqis. The word 'savages' makes us as anyone
think of something that doesn’t care about badly hurting anyone and
someone who is purely violent almost like a wild animal. This is a mass
build up of seeing propaganda and other peoples influences important
to Chris's line of work. Along side with just calling the Iraqis 'savages'
there is an instant link with terrorists and Muslims. It goes back to
stereo typing and then just puts a bad name on a religion that isn't even
involved that much with terrorism.
To finish off with some sad irony, Chris Kyle constantly showed his
patriotic feelings with "This is the greatest country on earth and I plan
to do my best to protect it". He manages to survive four tours in Iraq
and came home to his family. But he ended up being killed in the
country he put his life on the life to protect by a veteran he was trying
to help. In my opinion this also gives another meaning of spreading
awareness about how terrible the gun crime in America is within the
21st century.
9. The still image that I felt would have been the most suitable to talk
about due it being one of the most intense scenes of the entire film.
Whilst watching this scene as the viewer, its Chris Kyles first outing
on his first tour in Iraq. Gives off a certain nervous feeling which
puts us on the same level as how the character is feeling. Making us
wonder what that time was really like. This still image is repeated
throughout the scene due to Chris needing to constantly focus down
his sniper scope. The reason why I chose this still is because this is
when Chris gets his first two of 160 confirmed kills. His first was a
child carrying a grenade and then his mother straight after when she
picks up the grenade trying to finish their job. He gets
complimented on the radio by the men on the ground and as the
marine next to him comments "good shooting" Chris Kyle says "get
off me". He then stays frozen looking down his scope in shock of
what he had just done.
From looking at the image you can see how serious the situation is. This is because of the extreme close up close up helping you notice how
focused Chris is. The soldiers lives are in his hands and if he doesn’t make the shot then it could cost soldiers lives. Also we can see that the
marine in the background doesn’t seem as tense because he's only watching and doesn’t have to make that important choice that is taking
someone's life. The camera angle is just dead on level with Chris to make us as the viewer just focus on his emotions and how he reacts.
There isn't much variety in colours because being in the army they will both need to be camouflaged to be able to be hidden from the
enemies. This also involves their weapons, and along side with the lighting of the shot it all works well and sets the scene very well. The
lighting itself shows enough brightness to give the effect of being on top of a building but has a very grey tone to it which gives off the effect
that the area isn't safe or dangerous. That use of poor weather also could be some sort of a warning that something dangerous is about to
happen at anytime.
10. Bibliography
1. Anon. (Anon). American Sniper . Available: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2179136/.
Last accessed 2nd Jan 2019
2. Anon. (Anon). anon. Available: https://www.litcharts.com/lit/american-
sniper/themes/racism. Last accessed 4th Jan 2019 .
3. Anon. (Anon). American Sniper Study Guide . Available:
https://www.litcharts.com/lit/american-sniper. Last accessed 11th Jan 2019.
4. Anon. (2015). American Sniper Main Theme . Available:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqYGeEgVS9c. Last accessed 11th Jan 2019.
5. Anon. (Anon). American Sniper Review . Available:
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/american-sniper. Last accessed 11th
Jan 2019.
11. Term 2 Pans Labyrinth
Throughout watching Pan's Labyrinth, the use of colours were very interesting and quite unique in a way. In a lot of the
shots and scenes, there always seemed to be a few intense colours roughly around the same shade but also depended
on the emotions and the setting of the scene. The main colours that were recurring were blue, green and yellow. So
when the scenes were during the reality, the main colour used was a dark blue or greys giving off a low contrast which
then reflects as very gloomy and boring. Then for the fantasy side of the film, the main colour was yellow accompanied
with bright shades of oranges and reds. With all these colours being a high contrast it sets the scene as being a happy
and warm place for Ofelia. Finally, the colour green is seen as a more transitional colour as its what Ofelia is dressed in
throughout the film. By her wearing green throughout makes the assumption of it being transitional as Ofelia is trying to
get back to the under world. We also see this with her Mum, as at the beginning of the film she is also dressed in green.
But as the film progresses and she starts to take the captains side, her clothing is changed to blue. During the day when
sun was shining it was very intense and really lit up the whole scene and shot. Then it goes for the same with the night
time, the moon was intensified to then give a lovely grey blue shade setting the perfect lighting. I also noticed that all the
colours were paired nicely together with a lot of shadowing which to me fits perfectly because it gives off a fairy tail
feeling.
12. To me, one of the main themes of the film was power. To me it was obvious by the
captain constantly showing a mean streak and dominance over multiple other
characters. He constantly wants to be in control of everything, he constantly craves
more and more power. We see this dominance straight away when the captain and
his wife are reunited, he tells her to be seated into a wheel chair due to her
pregnancy. His wife responses by saying that it wouldn't be necessary and she is
perfectly fine, his response to that was sit in the chair and do it for me. A perfect
example of him wanting the control and having everything his way. The other themes
I would say in the film are links with Ofelia and her journey. Throughout her journey
she shows off a rebellious and disobedient streak towards everyone in the film, good
or bad. Ofelia never listens when asked specifically to follow the rules, she just can't
help herself. Another perfect example of this is when she is visited by the faun. He
gives Ofelia her next task and gives her specific instructions when she visits the pale
man to not eat anything. But she falls into temptation and eats a big, fat, juicy grape.
Finally a theme that links both captain Vidal and Ofelia is immortality. Throughout
the film we see the captain desiring the idea of immortality and an example of this is
by him wanting his new baby child to be a boy, so his legacy can live on. Then for
Ofelia, her journey and quest has the goal at the end of her rejoining the underworld
and gaining that immortality back. Another part linking in with the immortality
theme would be the blue rose story and how the rose itself gifts immortality to
anyone who manages to collect it.
13. As much as I want the journey to be real in the film and have the element of another
underworld realm within the real world, I believe the film does a very good job in
convincing us a the audience that to instantly assume that the journey is real. I think
that the journey is actually one big dream because of Ofelia's desire and love for fairy
tails. I personally believe this because the fairy tails are some nice bed time stories and
she actually tells a fairy tail story before falling asleep on the first night in their new
house. Once she falls asleep this is when I believe the journey/dream begins and she
dreams up the fairy coming to fetch her for her quests. Obviously because its a film,
anything could become real and saying that magic plants that cures her mothers near
death dramatically and all the mystical creatures she encounters. This is why I
mentioned how well the film makes it seem like real like life and throughout the film a
lot of it is realistic and would happen in real life. Overall I feel that anyone could be
persuaded either side and both sides have some really good points. For example, Vidal
as the end was heavily drugged and followed Ofelia. From Ofelia's perspective she is
talking to the faun. But when Vidal looks he can't see anything but Ofelia. This is one of
two cases where, Vidal was way too drugged up to even notice the faun or Ofelia is
imagining the whole thing. Another example would be when the faun returns to give
Ofelia her final chance of completing the journey/quests and she receives the magic
chalk. She can't leave through the normal door because of it being locked and heavily
guarded. We don't actually get to see Ofelia leave the room but all that is left is a chalk
drawing of a door on the wall. Some say she used that or she just climbed out of the
window.
14. The story about the blue rose makes us think of something beautiful and almost desirable. The desire completely
blinds the men from the danger of the poisonous thorns all because the blue rose promises immortality. I feel that
the blue rose almost symbolizes Ofelia's upcoming journey and links back to my previous paragraph. I mentioned
how the beginning of her journey/dream was on her first night in the new house, Ofelia tells the Blue Rose story. This
then sets you up for her journey that is about to happen.
