In 2014, Clint Eastwood’s film “Sniper” was released. The main role went to handsome Bradley Cooper, who specifically for this role achieved maximum similarity with his stellar prototype.
The origins of the film
“Sniper” is a film about the war, so we should expect that this film will become an Oscar nominee. At the same time, the second part of the sensational action based on the Hunger Games book was released. Hollywood, with bated breath, was waiting for the results of the box office competition , and ultimately Sniper still took a leading position. To date, there is information that this film collected the largest box office at the end of 2014!
The origins of the film originate in 2012 and are related to the fact that Bradley Cooper managed to get the rights to the adaptation of the biographical film about the American sniper, who became famous for his dexterity and destroyed 260 enemy militants in Iraq. The real name of the hero played by Cooper is Chris Kyle. He went down in US history as the most deadly soldier, not afraid to fight for his homeland and cover the backs of foot soldiers.
The plot was given a special emphasis by the fact that a high award was announced for Chris’s head, and he became the most coveted prey from Iraqi opponents. In 2012, the hero himself was already retired at home, and Bradley Cooper, touched by his story, worked tirelessly on the documentation for the film.
Launch of the project
The film “Sniper”, reviews of which were collected positive, albeit controversial, owes much to its success to the story that served as the reason for the launch of the project. The project was very ambitious, and Cooper originally planned that the film should become a serious contender for the Oscar. He himself did not want to act, but thought to limit himself to production work. However, fate decreed otherwise.
Bradley Cooper successfully signed a contract with the studio and proposed as a contender for the main role of Chriss Pratt, who had not previously been distinguished by serious roles. Companions were unhappy with this decision and put Bradley in front of a choice: either he plays the main role, or the project will not wait for the launch.
The next step in creating a cinematic masterpiece of military thought was to find a director and director. This happened quickly, and it was soon announced that David Russell would do it. The press was expecting such a turn of events, because this would not be the first collaboration of the guys on the set, the more they both spoke very warmly about each other. However, fate decreed otherwise, and Russell never managed to create a “Sniper”. Reviews of the film began to gain momentum in advance, as Stephen Spielberg entered the arena next. This happened with some delay, in May 2013, as Cooper was forced to do his other film projects.
Unexpected turn
“Sniper” is a film about the war, based on real events. Perhaps this added a certain amount of karma to the film, since the painted plot had to be changed dramatically due to the tragic events that had happened. As soon as it became known that Spielberg would be the director, and filming began, the prototype of the main character of the film, Chris Kyle, tragically died at the hands of a former colleague. This very upset all the participants in the filming process, giving them great confidence that the memory of the hero of the United States should forever remain in the hearts of Americans.
Steven Spielberg, with his inherent scrupulousness, decided to fundamentally change the plot, introduce new characters. This caused controversy on the part of the film studio and partners. The negotiation process threatened not to succeed, as the director did not want to compromise. Subsequently, it was decided to expand the final part of the film in order to portray Kyle's death as tragically as possible. Spielberg’s ideas on the budget could be compared with a high-tech blockbuster, therefore, not wanting to make concessions, he was forced to leave the set without having to start work.
Clint Eastwood - Around the Head
The actor has repeatedly tried himself as a director. He asserts with enviable constancy that his every work is the last, and he will no longer stand on the set. However, he quickly agreed to lead the process of creating the emerging cinematic masterpiece "Sniper". The film, the actors and even the original plot did not cause Eastwood any doubt about the successful completion of the project. The idea was not to depict the war with Iraq itself, but only to illuminate the phenomenal moments from the history of Chris Kyle's business trips. It was decided to publish his death in the credits, so as not to leave the main storyline - a movie about a brilliant sniper, a loving family man, a caring husband and respected citizens of his country.
Clint Eastwood acted with the accuracy of a predator, outlining himself a prey. The film crew immediately set to work. The first time the film was shot in Los Angeles, and then the group moved to Morocco, where it was decided to shoot scenes with military action.
Rental
In the fall of 2014, or rather, in November, the film was shown as part of the film festival. Film critics eagerly awaited the film itself, and the opportunity to evaluate Clint Eastwood as the director of such a promising project.
As for film critics, they predicted numerous awards to the project one by one, and also foreshadowed that it would go down in history as one of the best military films. The film "Sniper", reviews of which in a narrow circle foreshadowed all the laurels, in fact did not live up to expectations. The fact is that, having gone to mass rental in December, the tape received only a few awards in minor nominations, which could not but upset Eastwood.
Perhaps the whole thing in 2014?
A little upset by the fate of the film, the management of the film studio released the picture in mass rental in late December, limiting itself to only three cinemas. This was annoying, since the box office was a very impressive amount. January 2015 was the fateful month in the history of the film. The Academy Awards ceremony had a positive effect on the film, as it was announced that he received 6 awards. People rushed to buy tickets, and the satisfied management instantly agreed to broadcast the film in 35 cinemas. For three days, to the surprise of most, and Clint Eastwood, including the movie "Sniper", reviews of which flew across the world, collected at the box office $ 90 million.
For several weeks, the story of Chris Kyle has been leading the way in ticket sales across the United States. In March, the world spread unheard of news! It turned out that the “Sniper” (film) itself, the actors who played in it, were able to achieve the highest esteem among the audience in the team and were awarded the title of the highest grossing film by the end of 2014! Perhaps this sounds mystical, but really it was necessary to wait until the beginning of 2015 to reap all the laurels from the painstaking and meticulous work of the film crew?
What is the secret to the success of the film?
It may seem to many that this is just an ordinary drama, more than seasoned with the pathos and heroism typical of Americans. Obviously, this is not entirely true, because the audience’s sympathies are hard to win even for the titans of the cinema business! There are several facts. Firstly, from the director's point of view, the film was shot, as they say, "in the bull's eye". Readers will agree that in recent years issues of a military nature and a calm situation in the world have been particularly acute. If ten years ago a film shot for military reasons could claim for awards only in the case of a high budget, first-class actors and unmistakable PR work, today patriotic motives have risen to heaven. American families, with particular trepidation, experience constant business trips of their family members to enemy territories. Numerous terrorist attacks make even residents of megacities who are far from the realities of military strategy tremble with fear . The story of a hero who could safely hide behind the walls of Iraqi ruins and practically not risk his own life for less trained soldiers cannot but touch the hearts of those who knew Chris Kyle personally and even more so knew how things really were.
For a long time, all Americans had the legendary American sniper on their lips. Reviews about the film are largely based on previously heard news from Iraq, where during Kyle's life he highlighted his military successes. Clint Eastwood proved himself extremely wise from the point of view of not only the director, but also the PR manager of his own project. Numerous patriotic symbols, US flags, the so-called post-war syndrome ... All this together made the hearts of every spectator tremble, even far from military service.
The film "Sniper". Heritage. Reviews
Of course, a film based on real events will go down in history as an invaluable artifact. The tragic death of Chris Kyle at the very beginning of filming made this movie even more popular, and the trial of his killer - Marine Eddie Ruth - added oil to the fire. The unsurpassed and realistic game of Bradley Cooper gave the project a special charm, showing the protagonist not only loyal to his country, but also a loving man who is ready to do anything for his family - even give up his life's work. However, opinions about the purity of intentions of the American soldier were divided, since in Hollywood they agreed that the film adaptation came out very cruel and a lot of violence was shown.
Clint Eastwood's biographical drama met with a series of reproachful reviews. This put in the spotlight not only the director’s ego, but also the future of the Sniper project. Reviews of the film were somewhat accusatory, urging Eastwood to think about how relevant it is to represent the image of a mercenary heroic. Critics attacked the filmmakers, accusing them of misplacing priorities and immoral propaganda for the war. However, how can one understand the audience to the end, which, on the one hand, rejoices when watching, with a sense of pride for a compatriot, goes to the cinema twice for the same film, and on the other, then reproaches the filmmakers for not observing ethical standards?
What exactly did the critics bring down the charges against the creators of Sniper?
The marksman and the failed cowboy only at first glance, according to Hollywood critics, seems like a nice and decent guy. In fact, he is a brutal killer who went to war to legally kill people. Only twice the hero hesitates with the decision: to shoot or not to shoot. In both cases, the child is under the gun, and here all the tension of the plot is revealed. The film “Sniper”, reviews of which turned into indictment, once gave film critics a reason to take a particularly aggressive stance when Chris finally decided to shoot the child. In the eyes of the arbiters of cinematic fate, this misconduct looked unforgivable.
Particular indignation about the film, as well as sarcastic remarks, were expressed by a colleague in the craft of Clint Eastwood - director Michael Moore. He tried his best to ridicule the details of the script, and also publicly ridiculed the episode flashed in the film, where soldiers called Iraqis savages.
Russian film "Snipers: love at gunpoint"
In Russian cinema, the theme of the difficult fate of people who have to live on the other side of the sight is also revealed. The film “Sniper: Love on the Target” is a worthy interpretation of the domestic director Zinovy ​​Roizman of how cards can lie during the war. The storyline of the serial film tells the story of a young guy and a girl who, on the eve of the Great Patriotic War, were on opposite sides of the barricades and led enemy sniper groups. The main characters are in love with each other and do not suspect that soon they will have to leave. Being very young, they, like all romantics, dreamed of a long life together and in no way believed that something could separate them. It turned out that the war put everything in its place.
The Russian film in its intensity and emotional color resembles the American film “Sniper”. Chris, a hero of resistance to Iraqi militants, dreams of ending the war, hoping that he will be able to protect his family from the horrors that may come from enemy attacks. Young Katya and Sasha, the heroes of Russian cinema, are sure that the war will not affect them and their feelings for each other. In the end, both films show the viewer that cruelty and murder leave their mark on each person, and ultimately they will all have to go through a difficult period of self-identification after the end of hostilities.
Whose sniper was before?
In 2012, the premiere of the action movie "Sniper 2. Tungus" took place at a Russian film distribution. The prototype of the protagonist was a well-aimed and deft sniper, who had 360 killed Germans. The action takes place during the Second World War, and the main characters are inexperienced shooters, who are trained by a local sniper named Tungus. This is another military story that reveals all the difficulties of soldiers during the performance of combat missions.
The film “Sniper 2” is Russian to the depths of the soul of each hero, but this does not prevent us from drawing a parallel between him and the acclaimed film, shot based on Iraqi hostilities, such as the film “Sniper”. Reviews about him are much more angry than about similar ones in Russia. Perhaps this is due to the peculiarities of the mentality of different peoples or the fact that the Second World War cannot be depicted without violence and cruelty. However, film critics do not make comparisons between the pictures, despite their obvious similarity.