American Sniper

The most commercially successful and controversial film of Eastwood's career. Based on Chris Kyle's autobiography, American Sniper sparked fierce national debates about heroism, patriotism, and the nature of modern warfare while earning over $500 million worldwide.

We examine how Eastwood used Kyle's story to explore the psychological costs of contemporary military service without taking explicit political positions about the Iraq War. Through Bradley Cooper's transformative performance, the film showed how the skills that make soldiers effective in combat can become liabilities in civilian life, how the dehumanization necessary for warfare affects everyone it touches.

From the controversy surrounding its release to its influence on discussions about PTSD and veteran care, American Sniper proved that individual stories could illuminate broader social issues while transcending political divisions about military policy.

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