Politics and hollywood

[dude1394]

Clint points up amd says scoreboard.

[spreedom]

Clint also literally pointed to an empty chair and embarrassed himself and an entire political party.

Scoreboard what? He made a tone-deaf, unironic Team America sequel about a racist war criminal? The movie has absolutely zero chance of winning Best Picture. I don't even think it was one of the twenty best movies of the year.

[EricaLubarsky]

I'm sure it's possible to talk about a movie without immediately bashing others and stereotyping everyone from the opposing viewpoint. THAT is what makes this thread more worthy of the Politics forum than the Lounge.

Spreedom, that does go for you. It seems like you were the first to snipe and make it snarky and political. I understand that some movies can have political elements, but this thread has gone beyond talking about the political framing and long ago became about political sniping and sarcastic remarks about other peoples' political views.

[Murphy3]

Originally Posted by EricaLubarsky

I'm sure it's possible to talk about a movie without immediately bashing others and stereotyping everyone from the opposing viewpoint. THAT is what makes this thread more worthy of the Politics forum than the Lounge.

Spreedom, that does go for you. It seems like you were the first to snipe and make it snarky and political. I understand that some movies can have political elements, but this thread has gone beyond talking about the political framing and long ago became about political sniping and sarcastic remarks about other peoples' political views.

Coming from someone that just got through with her own Benghazi joke series in the "Other Sports" section.

[spreedom]

I don't think I said anything off-topic or inappropriate but whatever. Dude brought the topic back up and lobbed a meatball down the middle of the plate.

[spreedom]

[jthig32]

Let's take it easy on "war criminal". I tend to agree with the overall point of that Guardian article, but also think one should be verrrry careful in vilifying someone like Chris Kyle. I haven't read his book (or seen the movie yet), but from what I've read about him, some of his views are unfortunate, while others are pretty standard for someone that's been in the environment. I imagine it would be very difficult to function in combat without the sort of world view that most of us would find somewhat uncomfortable.

I agree with the article's point that it's unfortunate that nuanced conversation is being drowned out, and a movie that would ideally have generated social conversation and made people think is instead being consumed as a glorification piece. But calling the guy a war criminal isn't doing much to advance the conversation.

[dude1394]

I am sure that all of the soldiers whose lives were saved by a well placed bullet consider him a war criminal. I am sure they wish he hadnt pulled the trigger as well.

Ridiculous. But expected.

[SeanL]

Originally Posted by dude1394

I am sure that all of the soldiers whose lives were saved by a well placed bullet consider him a war criminal. I am sure they wish he hadnt pulled the trigger as well.

Ridiculous. But expected.

If we liberal anti-war types had our way all the soldiers who died in Iraq lives would have been saved because we wouldn't be fighting that pointless war.

[dude1394]

Originally Posted by SeanL

If we liberal anti-war types had our way all the soldiers who died in Iraq lives would have been saved because we wouldn't be fighting that pointless war.

All of your leaders voted for it. So go talk to them. If you liberal anti-war types had any balls you would have voted them out of office.

When did you see the movie anyway? And if you did, didn't you think it showed how tough it was to do your job? Both there and at home? Did it show some sort of murdering lunatic or someone with an overactive sense of devotion and protection?

[spreedom]

Originally Posted by dude1394

All of your leaders voted for it. So go talk to them. If you liberal anti-war types had any balls you would have voted them out of office.

FWIW, only 39% of Democratic House reps voted for it, and 58% of Democratic Senators. Your point is well-stated though, since prominent dems Biden, Kerry, Hilary, Russ Feinstein, John Edwards, and Harry Reid all voted in favor of it.

Originally Posted by dude1394

When did you see the movie anyway? And if you did, didn't you think it showed how tough it was to do your job? Both there and at home? Did it show some sort of murdering lunatic or someone with an overactive sense of devotion and protection?

My main criticism of the movie (other than it just not being very good in general outside of Cooper's and Miller's performances) is that the characterization of Kyle doesn't at all match up with the book. In the movie, he was written as a very conflicted man who regretted having to kill anyone (in fact, doesn't he say in his Army recruitment visit that he doesn't want to shoot anyone? Maybe I'm misremembering that part), but in the book he seems to have a very black-and-white view of right and wrong, going so far as to call the Iraqis, wholesale, "savages" that he "liked" shooting. Do you feel I'm being unfair with any of those observations?

[spreedom]

http://deadline.com/2015/01/american...er-1201359218/

Civil Rights Org Sees Rise In Threats Against Muslims Over ‘American Sniper’

Washington, DC-based civil rights organization, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, has written to Clint Eastwood and Bradley Cooper outlining an escalation in threats made against Arab and Muslim Americans since the release of American Sniper, and asking for their help to “reduce the hateful rhetoric.” In a letter dated January 21, ADC President Samer Khalaf wrote, “A majority of the violent threats we have seen over the past few days are (the) result of how Arabs and Muslims are depicted” in the film. Khalaf says the group is in receipt of “hundreds of violent messages” from moviegoers, many of which have been made on social media.

The Warner Bros film has been a huge hit at the domestic box office, crossing $200M this weekend. Overseas, it has opened to the biggest grosses of Eastwood’s directorial career in many territories. It is also nominated for six Oscars.

Warner Bros’ spokesman Jack Horner told Reuters over the weekend that the company “denounces any violent, anti-Muslim rhetoric, including that which has been attributed to viewers.” He added, “Hate and bigotry have no place in the important dialogue that this picture has generated about the veteran experience.”

The story of expert Navy Seal marksman Chris Kyle, “the most lethal sniper in U.S. history,” who had 160 kills in Iraq, is proving both a big draw and talking point across the Arab world. Despite the box office heat and critical accolades, there has also been criticism in the international media of the film’s perceived whitewashing of Kyle’s actions.

The ADC said it believes Eastwood and Cooper could “play a significant role in assisting us in alleviating the danger we are facing.” Wrote Khalaf, “Your visibility, influence and connection to the film would be a tremendous force in drawing attention to and lessening the serious dangers facing the respective communities.”

Khalaf also noted that the ADC is working with the FBI and police to address the threats. He told Reuters this weekend that there was no sense in calling for a boycott of the film. “People are going to see the movie. If we boycott it, it will only cause people to want to see it more.”

Wait... poorly-written, dishonest, tone-deaf, unironic spiritual Team America: World Police sequel has caused a spike in Islamophobia and hate crime threats?

[Murphy3]

Someone needs to take a dump on Lindy West's face.