Michael Moore Backtracks On ‘American Sniper’ Criticism, Says He Was Misunderstood
Michael Moore is backtracking on criticisms that many believe were directed at American Sniper, the box office smash based on the life of the late Chris Kyle (played in the film by Bradley Cooper).
After sending out a tweet implying that all snipers are cowards, Moore was met with an avalanche of backlash from the web with many wishing death upon him and calling him “un-American.”
(Seth Rogen met with similar criticism after comparing the film to Nazi propaganda.)
My uncle killed by sniper in WW2. We were taught snipers were cowards. Will shoot u in the back. Snipers aren’t heroes. And invaders r worse
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) January 18, 2015
But if you’re on the roof of your home defending it from invaders who’ve come 7K miles, you are not a sniper, u are brave, u are a neighbor. — Michael Moore (@MMFlint) January 19, 2015
Hmm. I never tweeted 1word bout AmericanSniper/ChrisKyle. I said my uncle killed by sniper in WWII; only cowards would do that 2 him, others
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) January 19, 2015
So ppl want me 2tweet something bout American Sniper? Great acting! Powerful message. Sad ending. There. My FB post: https://t.co/By4leT6b67 — Michael Moore (@MMFlint) January 19, 2015
After reading over thousands of negative comments, Michael Moore took to Facebook to further explain himself, realizing the 140-character tweets may not have been doing him any favors.
On the Facebook post, Moore talks a bit more about his uncle, whom he claims was killed by a sniper in World War II. He also admonishes Deadline for making it seem as if he was directly targeting American Sniper.
Finally, he weighs in with an official “review” of the Clint Eastwood film.
“Awesome performance from Bradley Cooper. One of the best of the year. Great editing. Costumes, hair, makeup superb!
“Oh… and too bad Clint gets Vietnam and Iraq confused in his storytelling. And that he has his characters calling Iraqis ‘savages’ throughout the film. But there is also anti-war sentiment expressed in the movie. And there’s a touching ending as the main character is remembered after being gunned down by a fellow American vet with PTSD who was given a gun at a gun range back home in Texas — and then used it to kill the man who called himself the ‘America Sniper’.”
“Also, best movie trailer and TV ads of the year.”
Still, the Fahrenheit 9/11 director wasn’t ready to completely back down on some of the more controversial aspects of his commentary.
“Most of us were taught the story of Jesse James and that the scoundrel wasn’t James (who was a criminal who killed people) but rather the sniper who shot him in the back. I think most Americans don’t think snipers are heroes.
“Hopefully not on this weekend when we remember that man in Memphis, Tennessee, who was killed by a sniper’s bullet.”
Does this followup from the director make you think better or worse of Michael Moore? Sound off in our comments section.
[Image via Jonathan Feinstein / Shutterstock.com]
