Indigenous Religions
Book
Scholarly attention to Indigenous religions has grown massively in the last twenty years. Within...
Whereas: Poems
Book
WHEREAS confronts the coercive language of the United States government in its responses, treaties,...
Poetry social issues
New Mythologies in Design and Culture: Reading Signs and Symbols in the Visual Landscape
Book
Taking as its point of departure Roland Barthes' classic series of essays, Mythologies, Rebecca...
Modernity's Ear: Listening to Race and Gender in World Music
Book
Inside the global music industry and the racialized and gendered assumptions we make about what we...
Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated American Sniper (2015) in Movies
Aug 6, 2019
American Sniper sees Bradley Cooper as Chris Kyle in his second movie with “American” in the title (see 2013’s American Hustle). Most of us know the story of Chris Kyle, but for those that don’t here’s a quick rundown. Chris Kyle is the most lethal sniper in American history with 160 confirmed kills as a Navy SEAL, and another 95 probable kills. He served four tours, and wrote a book about his life. This film is based on that book. It tells the story of how he was influenced by his father, joined the military, and then went on to serve four tours while trying to balance his life at home with his wife and children. Acting as the true Sheepdog to all in his life, American Sniper looks at the struggle Kyle went through, and tells the story with passion and respect.
Cooper did a fantastic job portraying Texas-native Kyle. He was almost unrecognizable onscreen, as he put in 8 months of prep to get ready for this role, including a 4-hour a day training regime, and another two with a vocal coach. It was even said that some of Kyle’s brothers-in-arms who helped train Cooper and serve as consultants on the movie could feel his presence through Cooper at the end of training and all throughout filming. Sienna Miller was a great compliment to Cooper’s performance as Taya Kyle, Chris’ wife and the mother of his children. And not surprisingly, Clint Eastwood knocked it out of the park in this go at the Director’s chair. This is his best movie in years, though one would hope so with Chris Kyle’s father threatening to unleash hell if the memory of his son was disrespected with the film.
Mr. Kyle’s passing was a tragic event for those that knew him, and even those that did not know him. I think he may rest well knowing that this film, adapted from his own auto-biography, was handled beautifully with such passion and respect. If I have one issue with the film, it was the rapidity at which things progressed. So many different events packed into 15 minute segments with time just seemed to be rushing like a river, and glossing over parts of the story that could really have used some more build up or exploring. But such is the case when adapting a movie from a book. Though I am sure that movie-goers would not have minded lengthy the movie a bit, even with a run-time of 132 minutes.
If you see one movie this month, let it be American Sniper. If you have not heard of Chris Kyle, or his story, go see American Sniper. Hopefully, the Legend will live on through the lives he touched, and saved.
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated Men Explain Things to Me: And Other Essays in Books
Oct 20, 2017 (Updated Oct 20, 2017)
That being said, some of the essays have some important points. This includes marriage equality between same sexes, ensuring inequality from a patriarchal standpoint can be dismantled.
And there is a small amount of intersectionality, discussing the rape of Native American and Indian women as part of a pandemic of violence against women rather than isolated incidents. And while this was written several years before and some of it no longer applies (Dominic Strauss-Kahn) it is still valid as the issues still continue.
The less said about slutwalk, the better.
I would say this is a good introduction to feminism for those who are seeking to understand parts, but I would recommend books with a little more substance than this.
Lipa Train
Education and Games
App
All aboard, preschoolers! Conduct a train that keeps growing, learn to predict directions, and...
Euro-Western: Reframing Gender, Race and the 'Other' in Film
Book
The Western has always been inextricably linked to the USA, and studies have continually sought to...
1001 Walks: You Must Experience Before You Die
Book
1001 Walks You Must Experience Before You Die features wide-ranging, carefully chosen routes varying...
Explorer's Guide Austin, San Antonio, & the Hill Country
Book
There is much natural and cultural diversity to be found in the heart of one of the country's most...