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Michelle Obama joins Bradley Cooper to praise ‘American Sniper’ Michelle Obama joins Bradley Cooper to praise ‘American Sniper’
(35 minutes later)
Avid movie fan Michelle Obama praised the Oscar-nominated “American Sniper” at a veterans-focused event Friday — potentially ending a media-fueled “culture war” over the politics of the film.Avid movie fan Michelle Obama praised the Oscar-nominated “American Sniper” at a veterans-focused event Friday — potentially ending a media-fueled “culture war” over the politics of the film.
Obama, who saw the film on Air Force One as she and her husband traveled abroad this week, called it “complex,” “emotional” and a realistic “depiction of a veteran and his family” in her remarks at a gathering that included star Bradley Cooper.Obama, who saw the film on Air Force One as she and her husband traveled abroad this week, called it “complex,” “emotional” and a realistic “depiction of a veteran and his family” in her remarks at a gathering that included star Bradley Cooper.
“While I know there have been critics, I felt that, more often than not, this film touches on many of the emotions and experiences that I’ve heard firsthand from military families over these past few years,” she said. “This movie reflects . . . the complex journeys that our men and women in uniform endure.”“While I know there have been critics, I felt that, more often than not, this film touches on many of the emotions and experiences that I’ve heard firsthand from military families over these past few years,” she said. “This movie reflects . . . the complex journeys that our men and women in uniform endure.”
Her remarks followed a panel discussion at National Geographic’s headquarters in downtown Washington, where Cooper and four Hollywood producers touted the power of films to change culture.Her remarks followed a panel discussion at National Geographic’s headquarters in downtown Washington, where Cooper and four Hollywood producers touted the power of films to change culture.
Cooper’s film was at the center of the conversation, and one panelist called it a “happy coincidence” that their discussion was taking place just as “American Sniper” had become an unexpected box-office hit and nabbed six Oscar nominations.Cooper’s film was at the center of the conversation, and one panelist called it a “happy coincidence” that their discussion was taking place just as “American Sniper” had become an unexpected box-office hit and nabbed six Oscar nominations.
Cooper spoke of his film as a model for the kinds of relationships the entertainment industry should cultivate with military veterans, some of whom visited the movie’s set and were cast as actors.Cooper spoke of his film as a model for the kinds of relationships the entertainment industry should cultivate with military veterans, some of whom visited the movie’s set and were cast as actors.
Cooper said that at a showing of the film to 260 veterans at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, “A Marine stood up and got very emotional and said, ‘Thank you for getting it right. You’re one of us.’ ” Cooper said that at a showing of the film to 260 veterans at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, “a Marine stood up and got very emotional and said, ‘Thank you for getting it right. You’re one of us.’ ”
The first lady’s blessing comes three weeks before the Academy Awards and in the midst of a larger debate about the film.The first lady’s blessing comes three weeks before the Academy Awards and in the midst of a larger debate about the film.
It has been lauded by many movie critics for its humanizing portrayal of Chris Kyle, a Navy SEAL who is known as the “most lethal sniper” in military history. Yet some liberal commentators have criticized it as glorifying war, drawing pushback from conservative pundits rushing to defend it.It has been lauded by many movie critics for its humanizing portrayal of Chris Kyle, a Navy SEAL who is known as the “most lethal sniper” in military history. Yet some liberal commentators have criticized it as glorifying war, drawing pushback from conservative pundits rushing to defend it.
Former Vermont governor Howard Dean (D) said last week that there was “a lot of intersection” between the people seeing the movie and the tea party, and he described the people who go to see the movie as “angry.” He later apologized.Former Vermont governor Howard Dean (D) said last week that there was “a lot of intersection” between the people seeing the movie and the tea party, and he described the people who go to see the movie as “angry.” He later apologized.
Fox News Channel’s Todd Starnes said he thought “Jesus would tell that God-fearing, red-blooded American sniper, ‘Well done, thou good and faithful servant.’ ” And the American-Arab ­Anti-Discrimination Committee has asked “American Sniper” director Clint Eastwood and Cooper to condemn anti-Arab and anti-Muslim threats that have accompanied the film’s success.Fox News Channel’s Todd Starnes said he thought “Jesus would tell that God-fearing, red-blooded American sniper, ‘Well done, thou good and faithful servant.’ ” And the American-Arab ­Anti-Discrimination Committee has asked “American Sniper” director Clint Eastwood and Cooper to condemn anti-Arab and anti-Muslim threats that have accompanied the film’s success.
The endorsement of the movie by a Democratic first lady could calm the media tumult. But Obama did not address the controversy in her comments.The endorsement of the movie by a Democratic first lady could calm the media tumult. But Obama did not address the controversy in her comments.
Friday’s event was built around an announcement by Got Your Six — a Hollywood industry group advocating for veterans — that is launching a program to certify positive movies focused on veterans as well as films that have employed or consulted veterans during production, with a goal of promoting more “authentic” portrayals in pop culture.Friday’s event was built around an announcement by Got Your Six — a Hollywood industry group advocating for veterans — that is launching a program to certify positive movies focused on veterans as well as films that have employed or consulted veterans during production, with a goal of promoting more “authentic” portrayals in pop culture.
But nuanced portrayals are already flourishing in film, according to Washington Post critic Ann Hornaday, who cited “Zero Dark Thirty” and “The Hurt Locker” in a recent essay as part of a trend of movies that highlight the professionalism of military personnel.But nuanced portrayals are already flourishing in film, according to Washington Post critic Ann Hornaday, who cited “Zero Dark Thirty” and “The Hurt Locker” in a recent essay as part of a trend of movies that highlight the professionalism of military personnel.
“Films of earlier eras commonly portrayed boots-on-the-ground soldiers as either victims, demons or mythologized heroes,” she wrote. “In today’s war movies, they’re professionals.”“Films of earlier eras commonly portrayed boots-on-the-ground soldiers as either victims, demons or mythologized heroes,” she wrote. “In today’s war movies, they’re professionals.”
But Obama, who with Jill Biden heads the military advocacy group Joining Forces, called for even more “untold true stories” of veterans.But Obama, who with Jill Biden heads the military advocacy group Joining Forces, called for even more “untold true stories” of veterans.
In her call-out to Hollywood’s “content creators,” Obama said she would like Hollywood to have the same effect on views of military veterans that it has had on perceptions of gay and lesbian Americans.In her call-out to Hollywood’s “content creators,” Obama said she would like Hollywood to have the same effect on views of military veterans that it has had on perceptions of gay and lesbian Americans.
“It wasn’t all that long ago that this was a third-rail kind of issue, not just in politics, but in entertainment as well,” she said of gay rights. “Today, ‘The Imitation Game’ is up for best picture at the Oscars, and Cam and Mitchell — two of my favorites — are raising their daughter on ‘Modern Family,’ one of the top-rated shows on TV. And at the same time, we’ve seen gay rights advance in real life as well.”“It wasn’t all that long ago that this was a third-rail kind of issue, not just in politics, but in entertainment as well,” she said of gay rights. “Today, ‘The Imitation Game’ is up for best picture at the Oscars, and Cam and Mitchell — two of my favorites — are raising their daughter on ‘Modern Family,’ one of the top-rated shows on TV. And at the same time, we’ve seen gay rights advance in real life as well.”
It is not unexpected that Obama chooses to engage moviemakers in connection with her initiative. The first lady has had a close relationship with Hollywood that was capped in 2013 when she made a surprise appearance at the Oscars to present the award for best picture.It is not unexpected that Obama chooses to engage moviemakers in connection with her initiative. The first lady has had a close relationship with Hollywood that was capped in 2013 when she made a surprise appearance at the Oscars to present the award for best picture.