How ‘American Sniper’ Movie Will Make You Feel After Watching

Emotions will vary greatly whether or not you served, but that 'kick in the gut' will be felt by everyone. And for some, it should never go away and here's why.

The silent credits at the end of the movie left my wife and I with a pit in our stomachs filled with sadness. My wife knew that Navy SEAL Chris Kyle (on whom the movie is based) had died but didn't remember how, and I didn't want to remind her either. I'd already tried to share several trailers for the movie that she refused to watch before seeing the movie. I won't spoil the movie for anyone who hasn't seen it yet, but no other post-9/11 war movie has ever just taken out my heart and just stepped on it quite like "American Sniper" did.

As the movie ends, the relentless sounds of war are silenced and the entire theater was filled with so much silence you could hear a pin drop. That silence came after the kind of applause you'd hear as your favorite team won the game but then it just stopped cold. The deafening silence behind the roll of the credits took over the packed theater. I felt sick to my stomach and it had nothing to do with the $38 we spent on snacks either. And I could tell by looking in other people's faces that I wasn't the only one. 30 minutes later, while on Facebook, I discovered what that feeling meant to those who have served.

That deeply sad, sick feeling in your stomach you'll have after watching "American Sniper" pleases Paul Rieckhoff, CEO and founder of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), an Iraq veteran, and the author of “Chasing Ghosts: Failures and Facades in Iraq: A Soldier’s Perspective.” He offers his thoughts on Clint Eastwood’s “American Sniper” in this guest column in Variety magazine.

As a civilian viewer, this film will haunt you...

 

... It’ll bother you. And worry you. For a long time. And force more questions than answers. Just like the war has for us.

 

Most of America is tired of hearing about Iraq. But now, they’re at least open to being entertained by it. And as an activist and as a veteran, I’m OK with that....

 

... I’ll take it. Like Chris Kyle was, every one of America’s newest generation of 2.8 million veterans is still processing the war ourselves. And will be doing so forever. And we know that films like “American Sniper” may bring civilians closer to us than anything else.

 

Please take the time to read the rest of Paul's column at variety.com

To ALL who have served, Thank you for your service.

To see all the records "American Sniper" broke this weekend, click the link below