The 87th Academy Awards are coming this weekend, and the military blockbuster "American Sniper" has been nominated for six Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Bradley Cooper's role as Navy SEAL sharpshooter Chris Kyle.
Some veterans groups and Kyle's family and friends have mostly praised the movie for its portrayal of urban combat in Iraq, Kyle himself, and veteran struggles with post-traumatic stress. However, the movie strays from the truth on some aspects of Kyle's life and deployments, making it an interesting film to put through The Washington Post's "Truth Teller" series.
For the second year in a row, The Post is fact-checking some of the major pictures up for Oscars. The effort includes "Selma," "The Theory of Everything," and "The Imitation Game" as well as "American Sniper."
Among the factual issues with "American Sniper":
The emphasis on Syrian sniper Mustafa
The film depicts at great length the enemy sniper Mustafa, an apparent near-equal of Kyle's who once competed in the Olympics as a marksman. However, as The Post's World Views blog highlighted last month, it is unclear if that particular insurgent sniper ever existed. He is mentioned in just one paragraph in Kyle's memoir, in which Kyle says he never saw Mustafa.
The movie, on the other hand, shows Mustafa stalking Kyle and his Navy SEAL colleagues through multiple cities and deployments in Iraq over several years. Kyle eventually kills him with a shot of more than 2,100 yards_a major moment in the film and purportedly the SEAL's longest shot ever, as The Post noted in December. He did take a shot that long, but it hit an insurgent with a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, according to his book.
In reality, it's highly unlikely that one insurgent sniper would have appeared in that many different locations during the Iraq War. Jason Hall, the film's screenwriter, told The Post that including Mustafa in so much of the film acted as connective tissue and made Kyle's four deployments less "episodic." Kyle did not kill him.
Kyle's prominent use of the satellite phone
The film shows Kyle repeatedly on the phone with his wife, Taya, while on missions "outside the wire." Several times she listens to the sounds of combat from thousands of miles away, horrified.
In reality, Kyle wrote in his book that his wife experienced something like that just once. Hall, the screenwriter, told The Post in December that he expanded the use of the satellite phone in the movie so that viewers could see them communicate while he was deployed. The couple also used email, but that is not shown in the movie.
The death of fellow SEAL Ryan Job
Kyle witnessed two of his SEAL teammates get seriously wounded in combat. One of them, Ryan Job, took a gunshot to the face in 2006, and died in 2009 while in surgery. His death occurred after he got married and had climbed Mt. Ranier, according to his obituary.
However, the film shows Job dying earlier, while Kyle is in Iraq on his last deployment. The altered timeline provided motivation for Kyle to kill the Syrian sniper in the movie.
Kyle's last day
In the film, Kyle is killed by an unnamed veteran who is struggling with mental issues. The man picks Kyle up at his house, and then the film moves to real footage of Kyle's funeral at the the Dallas Cowboys stadium, a memorial service that drew thousands of people.
In reality, Kyle picked up the veteran — Eddie Ray Routh — at Routh's house. Routh shot and killed Kyle and his friend Chad Littlefield at a rifle range where the three men had gone to hang out. Routh stole Kyle's pickup truck and led police on a high-speed chase before he was captured. Routh's murder trial is now underway. His lawyers, who do not dispute that Routh killed Kyle and Littlefield, are arguing for a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity.
The Washington Post
Thu Feb 19 2015
Military blockbuster "American Sniper" has been nominated for six Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Bradley Cooper's role as Navy SEAL sharpshooter Chris Kyle.
ISIS Malaysia's perspective of Budget 2025
An excellent rakyat-centric budget under the overarching principle of a caring and humane economy.
Budget 2025: Record increase in STR, SARA aid initiatives
The government will provide a significant boost to the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) initiatives next year.
Budget 2025: EPF contributions to be made mandatory for foreign workers – PM Anwar
The government plans to make it compulsory for all non-citizen workers to contribute to the Employees Provident Fund (EPF).
What policies to expect from Indonesia's new President Prabowo
Prabowo will be open to foreign investment, his aide has said, such as by offering investors management of airports and sea ports.
Budget 2025: Govt allocates RM470 mil to empower women's participation in PMKS
The Women's Leadership Apprenticeship Program will be intensified as an effort to produce more female corporate personalities.
Israel sends more troops into north Gaza, deepens raid
Residents of Jabalia in northern Gaza said Israeli tanks had reached the heart of the camp, using heavy air and ground fire.
Indonesia ramps up security ahead of Prabowo's inauguration
Prabowo Subianto will be sworn in as Indonesia's president on Sunday with Vice President-elect, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, also taking office.
Immediate allocation of RM150 mil for local authorities, DID to tackle flash floods
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said this allocation is intended to address the recent flash floods that hit the capital and several major towns.
Budget 2025: Sabah, Sarawak to continue receiving among highest allocations - PM
Sabah and Sarawak continues to be prioritised under Budget 2025, with allocations of RM6.7 billion and RM5.9 billion respectively.
NFOF will be operational in November 2024 with funding of RM1 bil
PM Anwar Ibrahim said NFOF will support venture capital fund managers to invest in startup companies with RM300 million set aside for 2025.
Minimum wage to increase to RM1,700 effective Feb 1, 2025
The Progressive Wage Policy would be fully enforced next year with an allocation of RM200 million, benefiting 50,000 workers.
Bursa Malaysia ends higher on Budget 2025 optimism
The benchmark index, which opened 1.85 points higher at 1,643.29, moved between 1,641.71 and 1,649.31 throughout the trading session.
Five important aspects relating to people’s lives in Budget 2025 - PM
The focus is on driving the MADANI Economy, speeding reforms, cutting red tape, raising wages, and tackling the cost of living.
Economic outlook: Govt plans to leverage, expand existing city transit system
The expansion aims to provide a more efficient and reliable public transportation network, reduce congestion, and improve accessibility.
Economic outlook: Budget 2025 to lay foundation for a digital-driven economy
The report said Budget 2025 will entail efforts to position Kuala Lumpur as a top 20 global startup hub by 2030 through the KL20 initiative.
Economic outlook: Corruption and lack of accountability hinder economic progress
Special Cabinet Committee on National governance is established to curb corruption, law reforms to modernise outdate regulations, MoF said.
National Wages Consultative Council will be strengthened
The govt will also incentivise hiring women returning from career breaks, offer job matching and improve care services facilities.
Economic outlook: Ensuring 11 years of compulsory education for all children
Budget 2025 will continue prioritising upskilling and retraining initiatives to equip workers with the latest skill sets necessary.
Consolidated public sector projected to record lower surplus of RM41.7 bil 2024
The MoF said the consolidated general government revenue is estimated to increase slightly to RM384.7 billion in 2024.
PM announces substantial Budget 2025 hastening Malaysia to become Asian economic powerhouse
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said it would create jobs and also tackle financial leakages to enhance public spending efficiency.