What do we have in mind exactly when we’re calling an Eastwood film subversive?
Someone above described Gran Turismo as subversive due to a Christ metaphor? To me a Christ metaphor is almost certain to be the opposite of subversive. It’s only the most pervasive and foundational metaphor in Western culture. It could be subversive (though likely hamfisted) if the person who is playing Christ in the metaphor is somehow a surprise, but is it so in the case of that film? (I haven’t seen it.)
What else about his films are subversive? I saw the two WWII ones that came out close to each other and didn’t think either was “subversive.” Did I miss something?
I agree that Eastwood’s films aren’t subversive. But a film doesn’t have to be subversive to be good, or profound. Nor does it have to have just one unified point of view. Eastwood’s a fox, not a hedgehog.
For the most part I don’t think he is. (Though Unforgiven is pretty subversive to the western genre.) But neither is he as simplistic as the OP makes it sound. For the most part Eastwood makes good and thoughtful films. Certainly not rah rah America fuck yeah movies. But of course how can you argue with a movie critique from someone that hasn’t seen the movie?
Probably the only movie he has directed that might fit the OP’s viewpoint is Heartbreak Ridge. But even that was more of a character study than anything else. And it was 30 years ago. On a side note, holy shit I’m getting old.
As a non-American I found Chris Kyle’s book interesting and worth reading but didn’t like the man himself. A little too macho and self-aware. So I haven’t been interested in the movie until now - if Eastwood has produced a more nuanced and complex story then I’d want to see that.
On any artistic level I can perceive, this is just insanely distasteful. There are plenty of ways to examine human character, this isn’t one.
Coming soon to a multiplex near you: ‘Al-queda IED Hero’ - the true story of a tortured soul killing and maiming US invaders, in graphic detail.
How completely lost in some American Mid-west provincialism do you have to be. Urh.
So how many ways can you examine the human character when it is exposed to war without setting it in a war? Or should movies ignore combat altogether? Or only do movies set in WWII?
I’m not really interested in seeing this and I like, for the most part, war films.
I’ve been reading about the book and Chris Kyle says that he killed two carjackers, that he was sent to New Orleans to shoot rioters after Katrina, and that he punched out Jesse Ventura for talking smack in a SEAL bar. Spreading bullshit seems to counter what a Navy SEAL should be and I don’t feel like supporting him or his widow.
I remember running into an old friend at a movie theater many years ago. I had just seen Kill Bill and he said it was a terrible movie and he hated it. I asked what he didn’t like about it and how it differed from what he expected of a Tarantino movie called “Kill Bill.” He admitted to not having seen the movie and not having any intention to ever see the movie, but “in what way does it contribute to the glory and edification of the body of Christ?!?”
I for some reason don’t like Bradley Cooper but this movie looks interesting. I wouldn’t go to the theater but would watch it on Netflix if that becomes an option.
Yeah, in the book there was a lot of discussion from both him and his wife about how he always put the military above his family, and the problems that this caused his wife.
He also admits a lot of his success was just him having more targets to shoot at, not any special skill on his part.
If you are a bloodthirsty murderer shutting the fuck up should be pretty high on the list, yes. Kyle was the type of guy right wingers would demand the entire nation of islam apologize for and condemn if he was on their side.
I found the move to be both an excellent and accurate (to the book) movie about a loyal patriot who did his job and did it very well while also being very human and troubled by his actions.
That said your bias against the subject matter is obvious and the movie will not change that, in fact it will only serve to solidify it.