Went to see American Sniper last night. Because its on. And Oscar nominated. And got lots of stars from lots of critics. And because some friends said; ‘let’s go see American Sniper’. Mel didn’t know much about it, I’d read reviews. She doesn’t like war films, I’m ambivalent. Not my favourite genre (that’s reserved for pretentious, art-house, confusing, preferably sub-titled, surreal, low-budget flicks, starring a French mega-babe who falls in love with an emu in a dream-within-a-dream scenario involving fem-bots. And it has to be funny) but heh, I’ll go see anything.

So after about an hour-and-a-half, during the ‘hero’s’ 9th ‘tour’ of Afghanistan, with its latest round of shooting and killing, my she-friend turned and said she really didn’t expect so much killing, shooting, warfare. What the fuck, I enquired politely, did she expect from a movie called American Sniper???

Cos what you get is a man who was absolutely brilliant at killing people from a long way away. Insurgents, wearing their keffiyahs and holding anti-tank grenades were no problem, the women suicide bombers caused a minor moment of conscience-twinge, as did the children he had to shoot because they indeed represented a clear-and-present danger.

And its the (true) story of the man who was the ‘winningest’ sniper of all time. A killing hall-of-famer. The captain of the all-pro sniping team. If they’d had one. Afghanistan’s MVP. Being directed by Clint Eastwood kind’a tells you what you’re gonna get.

Americans revere guns. And shooters. And as I sat there watching this great exponent of the art of death, in Swiss Cottage, I couldn’t help but think that in other places the action would have been greeted differently. In Austen Texas, or Omaha Nebraska, or Bum-fuck Idaho, I reckon there would have been whooping and cheering greeting every kill-shot. Because in any situation involving America versus Somewhere else, there are simply no moral considerations whatsoever. In fact that was the Sniper’s thing. He was protecting America and Americans. And maybe he was. But to really appreciate that film I think you really have to be a part of that ‘God Bless America’ mentality and drive a pick-up.

Though it is enjoyable. In a gunny sort of way. Bradley Cooper is good, in a starey, blue-eyed manner. Sienna Miller does laughing gaily and crying despondently in equal measure, alternating between her scenes.

Right, time for tennis.

Harry Kane is a God.

Happy Sunday

A xxxx