The Role Movies Play: American Sniper, Selma, and Controversy

A couple of movies and movie-related events have been at the heart of controversy over the last few weeks. Clint Eastwood’s American Sniper opened to huge box office, earning 90 million dollars on its first weekend and more than 200 million dollars in less than two weeks. That’s Clint Eastwood’s biggest opening ever and the biggest money making January weekend in history.

As everyone knows by now, the movie is based on the exploits of Chris Kyle, the deadliest sniper in U.S. military history. The movie has led thoughtful, sensitive, balanced intellectuals like Sarah Palin and Michael Moore to debate over social media who is and is not worthy to shine Kyle’s boots. More seriously and more importantly, American Sniper is contributing to conversations on the Internet and over the dinner table about the nature of war, the United States’ role in the Middle East, Islamaphobia, the suffering and treatment of 21^st century veterans, and the concept of truth and factuality in our culture of so-called reality tv and movies that are “inspired by” true events.

The week before American Sniper came out, the Oscar nominations were announced, and Ava DuVernay’s civil rights drama, Selma, was shut out of several major categories. It was nominated for Best Picture, for example, but was snubbed for Best Director which is unusual because the two categories are usually seen as companions. Also, a lot of attention has been paid to the fact that there’s not a single person of color nominated in any Oscar acting category, despite several stand-out performances this year. Of course, this brings up conversations about racism, white privilege, entitlement, and again the question of what we expect from stories meant to depict actual people and events.

My intention isn’t to express my opinion on any of these issues – we don’t have that kind of time – but I want to point out one function that movies serve in our culture. Often we think of movies as harmless entertainments that have more to do with marketing campaigns and celebrity than with our lives. And in some ways, that’s true. But to only look at it that way ignores how the movies we watch often reflect the preoccupations of our national consciousness and how they serve as places that bring together disparate views and opinions about foreign policy, race, gender roles, the economy, family relationships, violence, and love. Movies rarely lead national discussions, but they are often interesting, productive participants in them. They give us chances to have conversations we might not otherwise have.

Film can act as a mirror for our cold-sweat fears, our irrational (and sometimes rational) anxieties, our most optimistic ambitions, and our just-under-the-skin resentments. Movies often show us what’s on our collective mind, what we worry about, what we hope for. They give us opportunities to talk about the injustices we see, the things that infuriate us, and the ways in which we want to connect with others.

Like you probably do, I have friends and family members from every political and philosophical point of view imaginable. Almost all of them like to watch movies. It’s one thing we can agree on. So as you go see movies, especially in this upcoming election season, rather than think of them as just this or that piece of propaganda, think of them as opportunities to have smart, thoughtful, respectful conversations with other people, to talk about the ideas and issues raised. Let it lead to conversation rather than controversy. You may not change anyone’s mind or have your mind changed, but at least you have a chance to talk with other instead of at each other. It’s part of what movies are for.


This review was originally broadcast on Q90.1. www.deltabroadcasting.org.