Did American Sniper ever really have a chance at the Oscars?

COL Charles Williams — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 00:16:28 -0500

I am disappointed, but not surprised... American Sniper did not win

Response by PO2 Jonathan Scharff made Feb 23 at 2015 12:23 AM

PO2 Jonathan Scharff — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 00:23:41 -0500

No...sadly it never had a chance. Extremely moving movie. They can't take that away. Nor can they take away what we all have done for our country. That is the real honor.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 23 at 2015 12:25 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 00:25:17 -0500

Of course not. Another Liberal event.

Most have no clue how good they have it because of America's Armed Forces.

Response by SGT Francis Wright made Feb 23 at 2015 12:28 AM

SGT Francis Wright — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 00:28:00 -0500

No because they only want to be protected. For the most part people that have never served, hate us.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Feb 23 at 2015 12:33 AM

SFC Mark Merino — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 00:33:31 -0500

Funny how all those immigration reform speeches were all ready to go. Poor flick never had a chance.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 23 at 2015 12:57 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 00:57:43 -0500

That was the best movie that has been released in ages. Hands down.

Response by Cpl Jeff N. made Feb 23 at 2015 6:11 AM

Cpl Jeff N. — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 06:11:13 -0500

Not only didn't it win best picture it was snubbed on virtually every category. I think it won a smaller award for sound editing or something. The Hollywood establishment does not care for anything military. There are some actors/actresses that do but not the behind the scenes control people.

A movie for the ages, telling a story that needed to be told in a powerful way. It resonates with the American people and Hollywood ignores it. Anyone really surprised?

Response by SSG Selwyn Bodley made Feb 23 at 2015 6:48 AM

SSG Selwyn Bodley — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 06:48:12 -0500

"American Sniper grossed more money on popcorn than Birdman sold in tickets. "

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 23 at 2015 7:39 AM

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 07:39:13 -0500

Some of the movies I never even heard of. I was bored and turned it off after 5 mins. I wanted it to win but deep inside knew it would not. I like Stephen Hawking, so I am most curious to see that movie about his life.

Response by MSgt Michelle Mondia made Feb 23 at 2015 8:17 AM

MSgt Michelle Mondia — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 08:17:11 -0500

Do we really need to throw shade and bring up political lables? It wasn't that great of a film compared to other winners like Hurt Locker and Apocalypse Now. I've said it before...that movie was the high fructose corn syrup version of the book and took Kyles whole experience through the drive-thru; dumbed down for easy fast consumption. No complexity at all, it doesn't let the audience in as if they don't trust us to understand the charecter or the conflict. the emotions we feel about it because we are military or military family members are because we can identify with him and the story line but remember a well rounded movie and it's characters have mass appeal and brake new ground. That was not done with this script. It was a let down comparatively. Some books don't cross over to film, unlike Lone Survivor this fell short. The equivalent to a well thought out campain comercial.

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 23 at 2015 8:23 AM

2LT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 08:23:05 -0500

It seriously wasn't that great of a movie in my opinion. At times it felt like a made-for-TV flick..

Nothing ground breaking about the film at all, do you remember that film in "Inglorious Basterds"? The propaganda piece where he is just in the bell tower? I parallel American Sniper to that.

Tell me what was so GREAT about the movie? Nothing we haven't all seen before... But I know RallyPoint will fall back on it's usual defense: "Obama's Fault/Libtards/Left Wing-nuts/Or whatever thinly veiled hate speech you concoct today"

Response by MSgt Bj Jones made Feb 23 at 2015 8:34 AM

MSgt Bj Jones — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 08:34:14 -0500

American Sniper won Best Sound Editing Oscar, so it won something--which is more than Lone Survivor got. Even so, both films should have swept their respective Academy Awards for best picture, best director, best screenplay, best actor, best supporting actor, etc.

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made Feb 23 at 2015 10:21 AM

COL Jean (John) F. B. — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 10:21:21 -0500

I don't think it had a chance with all the liberal Academy voters. Clint Eastwood, who directed the movie, is a pariah to most of them because of his Obama empty chair speech.

I watched the Oscars (half-watched while doing other things actually better describes it) and it was obviously a liberal love fest. No surprise there.

American Sniper is a great movie. It does not need the Oscar stamp of approval. The box office results sends a message loud and clear to the liberal Hollywood types about what America really thinks.

Just saw an interesting article that is pertinent to this discussion:

http://hotair.com/archives/2015/02/22/oscars-shocker-most-of-the-nominees-are-big-dem-donors/?utm_source=hadaily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nl

Oscars shocker: Most of the nominees are big Dem donors

You don't say

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 23 at 2015 3:38 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 15:38:15 -0500

Sir, I feel it is political; Bradley Cooper was robbed, and Clint Eastwood wasn't even nominated for best director. SMH...but they won were it counted; $300 million without breaking a sweat.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Feb 23 at 2015 9:19 PM

COL Charles Williams — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 21:19:45 -0500

I also did not think it was great, truth be told... But there was a lot hype around and many seemed to believe it was sweep the oscars...

Response by Cpl Brett Wagner made Feb 23 at 2015 11:02 PM

Cpl Brett Wagner — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 23:02:32 -0500

This was such a blatant message from liberal Hollywood. Hollywood has a script they follow very closely. Al Pacino a great actor has one Oscar the same number as Nicholas Cage another... Well not so great an actor but he is the nephew of the right guy.

Response by SSgt Aaron Randall made Feb 23 at 2015 11:07 PM

SSgt Aaron Randall — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 23:07:34 -0500

No, because Birdman was so much better.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 23 at 2015 11:31 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 23:31:40 -0500

It did

Response by SPC Neil Hood made Feb 24 at 2015 10:10 AM

SPC Neil Hood — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 10:10:37 -0500

The big win here should be recognition/exposure for the psychological issues generated amongst veterans of the wars in AFG/IRQ.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2015 1:58 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 13:58:05 -0500

It did make a lot of money and will continue to make a lot of money, so if anything, we have Hollywood's attention. Now, let's see what they do with it. No, not surprised. They weren't going to let any war movie trump their sex starved, drug dependent movie goers....actually didn't watch the Oscars...I've found the awards don't nearly reflect my views and are reprentative of what I watch nor like. Anyone else feel detached from Hollywood?

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2015 2:24 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 14:24:09 -0500

I don't watch award programs. Its a bunch of people patting themselves on the back. I do not, in the least bit, believe it is representative of how the majority of Americans view a particular movie or television show.

I think the best example of this are the TV shows that get cut but have an enormous amount of people who like the show. But, since networks are behind the times in how they calculate ratings (they ignore online streaming, DVRs and services like iTunes), they cut shows that are enormously popular.

So, until they can get with the program, I put no stock in the legitimacy of these "awards".

/end rant

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2015 2:38 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 14:38:21 -0500

Havok had a story on this the other day.

Worth a read.

Response by GySgt Joe Strong made Feb 24 at 2015 3:10 PM

GySgt Joe Strong — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 15:10:06 -0500

Without having seen the movie, and based on what I've read about it only.
It's not the type of Movie that's likely to win or especially sweep the Oscars.

Not so much on content or Left or Right wing Political assumptions as many are saying, but more on the production value aspects. I'd feel much more comfortable about that statement if I had seen the movie, but based on what reviewers and other RP members are saying that it was gritty looking and was done semi-documentary style, not a "beautifully " produced film. No matter how much some of us can relate to the story.

I wish we could could quit being so very much overly politicized about every single thing that we post, or read. Some things stand on their own. In this case it's not a high art film, which is really what the Academy is about. Sure story telling can sometimes win out over weaker acting or low quality filming, but that's not what the Academy is looking for they are simply judging on Artistic merits. If they are bringing politics into it, then they are just cheapening their own awards, it's not meant to be a commentary on the purity of anyones political thoughts.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2015 4:06 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 16:06:58 -0500

I personally think they want to avoid something that would look like it was inviting propaganda. I know with some that they would immediately jump up and say it only won because it was a patriotic film.

I honestly just wasn't upset that a movie or actor won over another. It is an awards show, someone has to lose.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2015 6:07 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 18:07:49 -0500

I was surprised to see Guardians of the Galaxy and The Hobbit, Battle of Five Armies almost completely ignored. Worldwide box office gross for Guardians was over 770 million.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2015 7:40 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 19:40:20 -0500

Of course it was snubbed. You're not going to have a bunch of left-wing Hollywood types (think Michael Moore) voting for a military movie. And on top of that, Clint Eastwood was the director. He, of course, offended the entire left with his appearance at the Republican national convention. There's no beating the prejudice in Hollywood. They won't call it prejudice, but that's just what it is.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2015 7:56 PM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 19:56:02 -0500

With all due respect Sir, MAJ Private RallyPoint Member it wasn't snubbed. Birdman was a masterpiece, American Sniper didn't stand any chance against it. That article talks about how much money the movie has made, well, 5 years ago Avatar broke every single selling record and didn't win the Oscar (Hurt Locker won that year). Cooper's work in the movie wasn't as good, none was, as Eddie Redmayne in The theory of Everything, he was brilliant. If you ask me, I still pick Steve Carell in Foxcatcher over Cooper, being honest I wanted that Oscar for Keaton. It is not about the fake baby, is about objectivity, American Sniper was a good movie but not Oscar good. Now, I have another question, of all that say that the movie was snubbed, who took the time to watch the other nominees?

Response by SSG Thomas Brousseau made Apr 9 at 2015 5:47 PM

SSG Thomas Brousseau — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 17:47:44 -0400

The Oscars and the Noble Peace Prize have become nothing but an award for Liberal Activision.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 10 at 2015 9:40 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 09:40:25 -0400

COL Charles Williams:

To be fair, sir, the Oscars have always been a joke. I can honestly say that no Oscar nomination or award has ever influenced my decisions in entertainment.