‘American Sniper’ and the Problem of Adapting Memoir

By Antoinette Weil

As American Sniper settles into the throne of top-grossing war movie of all time, the controversy surrounding the film has yet to cease. Cries of "pro-war" and "anti-war" have been hurled across the aisle by viewers with very strong and very different opinions. This sharp divide in attitudes speaks to the strength of individual perceptions and just how much our own frameworks shape the messages and meanings we take away from stories. It may be that deeply divisive and chameleon-like quality that makes American Sniper a great film. And the ensuing controversy certainly mad...