Those who criticize "American Sniper" as a glorification of the elite Navy marksmen who pick off enemy soldiers misunderstand the film — and they should see it again, Iranian-American actor Navid Negahban, one of its stars, tells
Newsmax TV.
Among the critics of the acclaimed Clint Eastwood movie, nominated for six Academy Awards, is
Michael Moore, the liberal documentary filmmaker who declared that "all snipers" are "cowards who will shoot you in the back" and are "not heroes."
But Negahban — who portrays Sheikh Al-Obodi, an Iraqi local paid to help the snipers locate their targets says Moore owes himself a repeat viewing of the tense drama about real-life Navy SEAL Chris Kyle.
"I suggest that he should go and see the film one more time. I'm serious," Negahban said Friday on Newsmax's "The Steve Malzberg Show."
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"I don't want to give anything away, but if you go there, just please pay attention to the dialogue that's happening between the soldiers.
"They're talking about their journey and you see the transition, especially in Bradley [Cooper, who stars as Kyle], the changes that are happening inside him. The struggle, the hardship."
In no way is it making snipers look glamorous, he believes, but rather shows the devastating effects of war on its participants.
"All of the kids, all of the soldiers that you're sending them over there, when they're all coming back, they're all kind of bringing the war back," said Negahban, who also appears in the popular TV drama, "Homeland."
"American Sniper" — rated R for strong and disturbing war violence, and language throughout including some sexual references — is nominated for best picture, actor, writing, editing, sound mixing and sound editing.
Its subject, Chris Kyle, grew up in Texas and originally wanted to be a cowboy, but later joined the Navy SEALS to fight terrorism. The film chronicles his time in the Middle East and the challenges he faces when he returns home.
Negahban will next appear in "Price for Freedom," a movie based on the bestselling memoir by Dr. Marc Benhuri. Benhuri, who appeared on the Malzberg show with Negahban, is an Iranian Jew who worked to counter oppression after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Negahban also commented on the recent terror attack in Paris in which Islamic extremists executed 12 people at the offices of the magazine, Charlie Hebdo, which had run satirical cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed.
He said while he absolutely abhors the terrorists who triggered the bloodbath, he understands the anger raised by the cartoons.
"Respecting other people's beliefs, I am all for that. One of the things that is happening is that sometimes we are coming and we are saying my way is the better way or I am right and I know the best — and that's disrespect," he said.
"You're triggering something inside the person, that the person feels, that it not being seen. Now he wants to prove himself and he wants to show himself. I'm all for respect."
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