Anything Goes : American sniper - true or false? by Chanel Ashley

I'm surprised to read this, Chanel. I have to admit that I know nothing about the story and didn't even know it was based on a true story but I do know that Clint Eastwood is famous for (amongst other things) not sending notes to screenwriters and shooting the films as per the draft he read, so I'd be curious where the direction for the change came.

Hey, Pierre, Clint had read the book and gave notes to the scriptwriter as to which portions he wanted emphasised, especially the opposition sniper, Mustafa - I can understand why, it made good theatre and certainly added to the tension, but… the film itself was a good movie, I enjoyed it, so I'm not knocking the end result, just struggling with the fact versus fiction aspect.

Good example, Owen, I also thought Custer was a hero - I recently saw a doc from the Indian witnesses perspective which was substantiated, geez, it didn't paint the cavalry in a great light, not as heroic as in the movies - you're correct, we don't expect a history lesson, but Chris Kyle endured some amazing things in Iraq, survived some amazing crashes and near-misses - I still see him as brave and understand the motives that drove him forward, but I understand he also said he enjoyed his time there and it was "fun" - this was never shown in the movie and of course it couldn't be, a large portion of the audience would not tolerate him killing "savages" for fun, juxtaposed with defending fellow soldiers - again, how much licence should be exercised in biopics, especially since this was based on an autobiography and all the facts as Chris Kyle saw them were laid before you.

We're experiencing a moment where "based on a true story" is all the rage. But...I think it's important to remember that a film "based on a true story" is still a work of fiction and not a documentary. No one should be learning their history from a film, or assuming every beat is fact. After all, to craft a screenworthy story we have to dramatize. American Sniper spoke to you because it's a good film, and in being a good film, it encouraged you to think about its themes and research the true facts -- that 's pretty powerful storytelling!

I agree with you, Shari, every second film feels like it's "based on a true story" and of course there's an element of fiction - but the "fiction" is usually expanded only in American films, more licence appears to be taken by American fils as opposed to British and Australian movies - not saying it's a bad thing, just how far can you stretch the rubber band re credibility - American Sniper is a good film, my mistake was looking up the true facts, lol.

Ha! Isn't it funny how the true story ruined the movie for you. I had a similar reaction over "A Beautiful Mind." I felt incredibly manipulated when I learned how much of that story wasn't true, especially because it had been marketed as "true." I think that's when I decided "a movie's just a movie." I think American Sniper told the story the screenwriter and director wanted to tell, as opposed to Chris Kyle's. But audiences don't think about that, right? btw, it's so interesting to me that Americans are fictionalizing more! Hadn't thought about that. Hmmm... What's also really interesting is that audiences seem to want what's "true" but still don't really turn out in big numbers for documentaries. Would this many people have seen "The Chris Kyle Story?"

One of the biggest revelations I discovered, but omitted from the film for obvious reasons, is that Chris Kyle enjoyed what he was doing - can you imagine the audience reaction if that aspect was displayed on the screen - he didn't do 4 tours for the scenery, but by the same token, I was in awe of him having read what really happened, what he really experienced and that he got out alive - the truth also would have made a good movie, but as a writer I understand completely the path Clint Eastward chose, especially in regards to the opposite sniper, Mustafa - let's say that aspect was embellished, but highly enjoyable re the entertainment/tension value it brought to the screen - that's a good point re documentaries, The Chris Kyle Story would have nowhere near the same audience.

Actually, when you think about it, did they need to leave that out? What a character arc it would have been for Chris to go from the guy who loves to kill, to the guy who's deeply traumatized and damaged by it. We've embraced the anti-hero, so maybe the movie would have been even more textured with that level of honesty. The comparisons to Mustafa would certainly have been deeply disturbing, but we'd still be able to root for Chris as we witnessed his transformation. I think the Chris we saw on screen was an artistic choice -- he's the Chris Clint Eastwood connected with based on his own political views, just like the LBJ we saw in Selma was based on artistic interpretation. This is what audiences forget -- a film is created by a storyteller who asks a dramatic question and explores the answers from a particular perspective or vision, as opposed to a journalist who wants to present the facts. But, that said, we probably shouldn't be misleading. Maybe it's just time to remind ourselves of that -- do away with "based on" and stick with "inspired by."

An excellent observation, it would have been an excellent arc - ironically, I think the fact is less believable than the fiction, lol - I have no doubt Clint Eastward has kept this premise simple - American sniper, enemy sniper, only a matter of time before their paths crossed and of course, they do - the dramatic tension this entailed I must admit made exciting cinema and in the end I guess that's the name of the game - entertainment - your suggestion of "inspired by" is an excellent one, way too many films now are "based" on some truth which ultimately tend to be fiction, or feeling kind, are full of embellishment - I also liked A Beautiful Mind, pleased I didn't Google afterwards, LOL.

It's a very tricky, very bipolar thing with me. I tend to go either way depending on the film in question. These things make the biggest hypocrite out of me but I ain't apologizing for any of it. For the majority of films that spark this kind of debate, I turn to this reasoning: you don't have to stay true to the facts. History has to stay true to the facts. Drama has to stay true to the spirit of the facts.

I hear what you're saying, Chris, but my issue is the fact they push the "true" story aspect so hard - it only became an issue now because I Googled the Chris Kyle story and was surprised at how far the whole thing deviated from the "truth" - sure, I may have been a little naive, but non American films tend not to stretch the story to the same degree and I now simply accept these films are merely entertainment.

They are only pushing the true story aspect out of it because it's a marketing gimmick. One of several contributing factors to it's box office success. It's Hollywood. Gotta market and sell that product.

A films purpose is to entertain - if you want straight up fact, watch a documentary.

One of many purposes.

You're missing my point, Eoin, of course a film is meant to entertain and American Sniper did just that - I was simply surprised at how much they deviated and how much licence was used considering how much they pushed the "true story" aspect - the lesson I've learnt is to ignore those claims in future - straight-up fact is one thing, straight-up bullshit is another - I expected and would have been comfortable with embellishment and some poetic licence, but geez, there is a limit, otherwise "true story" becomes "fabrication".

Hi Chanel - I don't think I have missed the point. It's clearly 'based on a true story', not 'this is a true story'. Of course a studio is going to push that angle, why is that so surprising? It's marketing, just like creating screenplays based on popular novels, studios have guaranteed bums on seats. The requirements of a compelling film, differ from true life. To quote Hitchcock,'what is drama but life with the full bits cut out'. For film, based on true life is a hook, but you still need to make things dramatic.

One of my famous examples of this process gone horribly wrong is "Blackhawk Down". If you count how many individuals are on the helo at the beginning, and then count how many were shown dying, and then how many survive, the total doesn't add up right. Is it a film with incredible action and visuals, yes. Did somebody have problem with continuity or over write yes....

Eoin, you must have missed it - "fabrication" - as in it didn't happen in real-life, episode did not exist, character did not exist - sure, exaggerate, embellish, but fabrication? Happy you're happy to accept that marketing aspect, happy the "facts" are of no significance to you, but for some of us it does matter - an earlier comment mentioned the initial portrayal of Custer in movies, that is the sort of "bullshit" I'm referring to - Custer was no hero - anyway, don't want to be too specific re spoilers as plenty of people are yet to see the movie and I won't focus on the aspects of the story that "didn't" happen.

Just curious Chanel, did you expect the same to apply to Theory of Everything and The Imitation Game? Did Stephen Hawking protest and say, 'that's not how it happened!'. No, he said,'broadly true'. Do you honestly expect to go to the cinema, where everything is make believe and not expect that to apply to 'based on a true story'? Once the rights are sold, the most dramatic story in the eyes of a producer or studio is what matters. Sometimes there's a broader theme to explore. The main points of American Sniper were true. As an aside, gave you ever tried to write a true life story? What's interesting in true life, is not so dramatic on the page.

While all this is true, and I said pretty much the same thing earlier in this thread, I do think audiences get frustrated when they find out their "based on a" true story isn't so true after all... As story tellers we understand this, but our audiences frequently don't.

Actually, Eoin, yes, I do expect some semblance to the truth - I haven't seen The Theory of Everything and I loved The Imitation Game - were they accurate? I have no idea, but I Googled American Sniper because of two critical aspects that intrigued me and extremely disappointed that both were fabricated - does that really come as a shock to you? Is that truly so difficult to comprehend that perhaps one would express disappointment? - I have already said that this episode has opened my eyes to the extent of "bullshit" that is perpetrated, in the same manner General Custer myths are perpetrated - should I have known better? Perhaps! - I accept that you accept any level of bull is okay because that's Hollywood, the movies, the way of the film world and in the name of entertainment, but I don't.

You hit the nail-on-the-head, Shari - members of the audience, myself included, get frustrated - not because the truth may have been "bent" and "moulded" to enhance the story, but the degree of "fabrication" is what played on my mind and the fact they are able to get away with it so easily.

I'll have correct you on one point - I don't accept any level of BS, I'm duly aware of it, there's a difference. The 'truth', is as reliable as a POV or the facts gathered. Have you read Kyle's book? Could his own account be a distortion of the facts? Are you solely relying on Google? Do you have first hand accounts? If you've written a 'based on a true story', you'll realise that telling the truth in a purely factual manner results in the most mind numbingly boring rubbish, that would never see the light if day. How do I know? I've been there. http://screenplayreaders.com/ratchet-up-the-conflict/

There have been some faithful adaptations - The Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, To kill a Mockingbird - so it can be done - an interesting story from Oz, Gina Rinehart, the richest woman in the world, has taken Channel 9 to court over a mini-series depicting a portion of her life that proved rather tumultuous - she cited the series is fabrication and wanted to see the final episode and assess whether she had been defamed - the court agreed - she also cited the series contained conversations that never occurred re her famous father and their conflict, and that many falsehoods expressed that she found demeaning and possible defamation - she managed to see a preview, but I've heard/read nothing since - for the record, her father was Lang Hancock, he discovered by accident the largest iron ore deposit on the planet in Western Australia.

Regardless of what was true or false, this article sums up my feelings about the film. http://www.vox.com/2015/1/22/7859791/american-sniper-iraq

@ Chanel -- there are biographies and there are "adaptations" for the screen. One hopes the biographer had enough access to letters/ diaries/ primary sources to write a truthful account. When it comes to the cinema, if you don't like "fabrications" your best bet is a documentary. To make a feature film, however, you can't always encumber the story with every known fact. A screenplay may start that way -- but it will go through revisions until it seems like "a story well told" vs 100% truth. If you decide to focus on historical figures, Chanel, after you write your 7th screenplay (based on true events), let's have this conversation again, shall we? :-D

That was a pretty good article, Chris, can't say I disagree.

I think you may have jumped to a few conclusions, LindaAnn - I would never expect 100% truth, not anywhere near it and as a writer appreciate where and why one must make changes to "enhance" the telling of the story - my complaint is the "degree" of fabrication - if you haven't seen the movie, don't read on, but THE fabrication that irks me is Mustafa - he is barely mentioned in a single paragraph in the book, yet so much hinges on this character - Chris Kyle and Mustafa NEVER crossed paths, Chris did not shoot Mustafa with that FAMOUS long range shot - NEVER happened, yet so vital to the screen version, a character mentioned in a short paragraph - I can handle the little lies and story re-arrangements, that's part of storytelling, but when so much hinges on a "duel" that never occurred, great cinema, but completely untrue - if you see the movie you'll know what I mean - some people don't care either way, which is fine, but I am simply expressing my DISAPPOINTMENT considering how hard they pushed the "true" story aspect.

I read a smart, insightful article about Chris Kyle, 'truth' and storytelling by Michael McCaffrey the other day - thought-provoking stuff http://mpmacting.com/blog/2014/7/19/truth-justice-and-the-curious-case-o...

I read the article, Angela, found it really interesting, thank you for bringing it to our attention.

My pleasure - thanks for the interesting thread!