The Hurt Locker (2009) -vs- American Sniper (2014)

[ChadFeldheimer]

The Hurt Locker
Director: very liberal
Oscar Win for Best Picture
Oscar Nom Best Actor, Jeremy Renner

American Sniper
Director: very conservative
Oscar Nom Best Picture (win pending)
Oscar Nom Best Actor, Brad Cooper (win pending)

Which Iraq war film do you think is better and why?

 

[BearCat204]

Good ole billy

 

[davethevol]

Let the debate!

 

[ChadFeldheimer]

I finally saw American Sniper last night, then got home to see that Hurt Locker was on TV. I watched the first hour. (I've seen it twice already) The dialogue in HL is very left-winged.. Cooper's performance is wayyyyy better than Renner's. I'm not even sure Renner deserved a nod, I'd have to look up the other movies released that year... Awesome opening scene in The Hurt Locker, but I think the movie is overrated. American Sniper, IMO, is the better movie...

 

[VOLatile]

I watched American Sniper last night online. I enjoyed Hurt Locker much more. It was my favorite movie of 2009 and my brother was in Afghanistan at that time.

 

[Boston Vol]

Hard to take The Hurt Locker seriously since it's completely full of ****.

 

[govols/cc]

There's no comparison

 

[VOLatile]

Hard to take The Hurt Locker seriously since it's completely full of ****.

And American Sniper isn't? Give me a break.

 

[Boston Vol]

And American Sniper isn't? Give me a break.

Don't know haven't seen it. Ask most of my fellow Iraq War vets, The Hurt Locker is laughable.

 

[ChadFeldheimer]

Don't know haven't seen it. Ask most of my fellow Iraq War vets, The Hurt Locker is laughable.

Ummmm... How? Jeremy Renner's character was based on an actual person. Creative liberties for the film were taken, yes, but what about it is laughable? Everything seemed realistic to me.

 

[Boston Vol]

Ummmm... How? Jeremy Renner's character was based on an actual person. Creative liberties for the film were taken, yes, but what about it is laughable? Everything seemed realistic to me.

He might be based on a real person, but his actions in the film portray him as a reckless ****. Roaming the streets in a hoodie? Taking off your protective gear because "I want to die comfortable." Going on a wild goose chase with two other soldiers at night, in Baghdad, without backup? I understand it's a movie and it does show how courageous EOD techs are, but most audiences believe it's an actual portrayal of the Iraq War and the behavior of soldiers. It's anything but.