Wednesday, January 28, 2015 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon 13 ‘American Sniper’ in the crosshairs “American Sniper” has become a surprise box office smash, breaking records for a mid-winter release. Less surprisingly, it has become a flashpoint in the culture wars. For many folks, it’s a depiction of the skill, dedication and sacrifice of American warfighters as rep- resented by one of the elite: Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle. For others, the movie is a glorification of war and killing that evades taking responsibility for a bad war. Clint Eastwood says his movie is an “anti-war state- ment,” because it shows the vast civilian population that had no personal skin in the game “what [war] does to the family and the people who have to go back to into civil- ian life like Chris Kyle did.” Chris Kyle was one of a long line of country-boy sharpshooters who made their mark on American military history. Some exalt that heritage and his burly Texas cowboy persona; oth- ers find it hard to take. Some see him as a hero, others as a remorseless killer who dehumanized the people in his crosshairs, calling them “savages.” Some scoff at Kyle’s By Jim Cornelius insistence that his job was where Eastwood is coming about saving lives — but from. that’s what sniper overwatch The movie elides some does. Snipers protect sol- aspects of Chris Kyle’s char- diers or Marines as they go acter that would have made about the dangerous work for a more complete picture. death, Jesse Ventura won He sure ain’t the first Texas of patrol or raid in an urban He seems to have made up a defamation suit against cowboy to tell a stretcher or environment. That said, if some whoppers after return- his estate over a claim that two in a barroom. you’ve read Kyle’s memoir, ing from war. He claimed Kyle decked Ventura in a Kyle’s larger-than-life upon which the movie was to have killed two men who Coronado bar after Ventura persona surely had its por- based, it’s clear that he rel- tried to carjack him in Texas, allegedly disparaged the war tion of bravado, but he was ished his work and his skill deploying some kind of get- and Navy SEALs. Ventura also a generous and compas- with a rifle. He felt competi- out-of-jail-free card from the said it never happened, and sionate man. The irony of tive with other snipers and Department of Defense to a jury sided with him. his death is bitter: slain by he did, indeed, regard those deter law enforcement heat. Why Kyle felt the need a troubled veteran he had in his crosshairs as savages. And he allegedly told stories to tell tall tales when he had reached out to and was try- Why that should shock about traveling in secret to a verified record of excep- ing to help. anyone is a perplexing ques- New Orleans during Katrina tional combat prowess and Whether you see Chris tion. No matter how it’s san- and shooting looters. fortitude is an open ques- Kyle as a hero or not depends itized for public consump- None of that is verifi- tion. The answer may be mostly on the lens you are tion, no matter how anti- able, and knowledgeable psychologically complicated looking through. But cer- septic it is rendered by the folks are pretty certain noth- — some need to hold onto tainly he was a man whose distance afforded by missile ing like these incidents ever to a sense of identity (“The story was worth the telling, strike or drone, war is still happened. After Kyle’s Legend”) — or maybe not. and Eastwood told it well. about killing enemies. And the brutality of the insurgents and outright terrorists Kyle and his comrades fought in Iraq ENTERTAINMENT•ARTS•SPECIAL EVENTS certainly earned the des- Faith Hope p & Charity y ignation “savage.” Thursday~Jan. 29 Vineyards Friday~Feb. 13 y Live Music with One can oppose the Geoff Elvee 6 to 9 p.m. Faith Hope p & Charity y Sisters High g School Sisters Iraq war for any num- $10 cover. And Fondue Vineyards y Live Music Folk Festival Winter Friday is $30 for two! For ber of valid reasons and with Lindy y Gravelle 6 Concert: The Stray y Birds with additional information go to Cahalen Morrison & Eli West yet acknowledge that to 9 p.m. $5 cover. For faithhopeandcharityevents.com 7 p.m. $20 in advance, $2u additional information go to the hostile elements our at the door ($10 students). faithhopeandcharityevents.com or call 541-526-5075. troops fought there were additional information or call 541-526-5075. Saturday~Feb. 7 For deadly enemies. In fact, or to purchase tickets call u41-u49-4979 or go online to Friday~Jan. 30 that seems to be exactly Hoodoo Winter Carnival Starts Friday Fri., Jan. 30 – Thurs., Feb. 5 Faith Hope p & Charity y Vineyards y Live Music with The Matt Summers Band 6 to 9 p.m. $10 cover. And Fondue Friday is $30 for two! For additional information go to faithhopeandcharityevents.com or call 541-526-5075. Whiplash (R) Saturday~Jan. 31 80s Dance Night with Fun Bobby! Fri 5:00, 7:30 Sat 2:15, 7:30 Sun 1:45, 4:00 Mon-Thurs 4:00, 6:30 Feb. 11th / Wed. Fri 7:15 • Sat 4:15, 7:00 Sun 3:45 • Mon-Thurs 5:45 The Belfry y ’80s Dance Night g with Fun Bobby! y 7 to 10:30 p.m. $15 adults and $10 students. A fundraiser for the 2015 Sisters High School Grad Night Party. Purchase tickets at Common Threads, online at bendticket.com, or at the door. For info call 541-480-6525. Jan. 31st / Sat. S�� Grad Committ ee presents 7 PM • $15 adults s $10 students Carolyn Wonderland 4 Peaks Preview Party! Heralded as one of the best vocalists in Austin! Foxcatcher (R) Theory of Everything (PG-13) Fri 4:45 • Sat 1:45, 4:45 Sun 1:15 • Mon-Thurs 3:15 The Imitation Game (PG-13) Fri 4:30, 7:15 Sat 2:00, 4:30, 7:15 Sun 1:30, 4:00 Mon-Thurs 3:45, 6:15 American Sniper (R) Valentine’s Vale ti ’ Dance with The Notables Swing Band Dessert & Dance Swinging Fun! 7 PM • $10 online PUB OPENS 1-1/2 HOURS PRIOR TO SHOWS BelfryEvents.com Call for Details 541-815-9122 Fri 4:15, 7:00 Sat 1:30, 4:15, 7:00 Sun 1:00, 3:45 Mon-Thurs 3:15, 6:00 Movie times and titles are bsite subject to change. Visit we n. atio rm info st late for or call WWW.SISTERS MOVIEHOUSE.COM 541-549-8800 Monday~Feb. 2 9 a.u. to 9 p.u. Kidsh gaues, live uusic, BBQ, the annual “duuuy downhill” and fi reworks! An all-day fauily affair! For additional inforuation go to hoodoo.cou or call 541-822-3799. Black Butte Ranch Fat-bike Cow Patty Crit 12 to 4 p.u. This 2- to 4-person short-track fat-bike race is for riders 15 or older. Entry is $15 online in advance by February 5, or $25 the day of the event (fat bikes provided; heluets and closed- toe shoes required). For uore info go to blackbutteranch.cou or call 541-595-5877. Monday~Feb. 9 The Open p Door at Clearwater Gallery Live Music! 7 p.u. No cover! For additional inforuation call 541-549-4994 or go to theclearwatergallery.cou. sistersfolkfestival.org. The Belfry y Author Reading, Garth Stein, “A Sudden Light” g 6 p.m. Free! Paulina Springs Books presents the bestselling author of “The Art of Racing in the Rain,” sharing his new novel. Pub doors open at u p.m. For more information call u41-u49-0866 or go to paulinasprings.com. Faith Hope p & Charity y Vineyards y Live Music with JazCru 6 to 9 p.m. $u cover. And Fondue Friday is $30 for two! For additional information go to faithhopeandcharityevents.com or call u41-u26-u07u. Saturday~Feb. 14 The Belfry y Valentine’s Dance & Dessert with The Notables Swing g Band! 7 to 10:30 p.m. $10 online at bendticket. com or $12 at the door the day of show. For additional Wed.~Feb. 11 information call u41-81u-9122 or go to belfryevents.com. The Belfry y Live Music with Thursday~Feb. 5 Faith Hope p & Charity y Carolyn y Wonderland 7 to Faith Hope p & Charity y Vineyards y Valentine’s 10 p.u. for 4 Peaks Preview Vineyards y Live Music with Party! $17 online at bendticket. Dinner & Dance with The Heather & Tom Duo 6 to Substitutes 6 to 10 p.m. $115. cou and $20 at the door the 9 p.m. $5 cover. For For 21 anw over. Celebrate day of show. Pub doors open additionag information go to romance the winery way! 90 uinutes before the show. faithhopeandcharityevents.com For uore info: 541-815-9122 or Special menu with guest or cagg 541-526-5075. chef Cerstin of Bleu Bite. go to belfryevents.cou. Purchase tickets online at Friday~Feb. 6 Thursday~Feb. 12 faithhopeanwcharityevents.com or call 541-526-5075. Sisters High g School Sisters Faith Hope p & Charity y Sisters Schools “Sisters Folk Festival Winter Concert Vineyards y Live Music Shootout” Basketball with Foghorn g Stringband g with The Substitutes Tournament 8 a.m. start for & Beth Wood 7 p.m. $20 6 to 9 p.u. $5 cover. For way-long event. For boys anw in advance, $25 at the door additional inforuation go to ($10 students). For additionag faithhopeandcharityevents.cou girls in grawes 5 to 8. For awwitional information go online information or to purchase or call 541-526-5075. to sistersshootout.com or call tickets call 541-549-4979 or go Sisters Park & Recreation Listings are subject to change. to sistersfolkfestival.org. District at 541-549-2091. Submission deadline is The Open p Door at Clearwater Gallery Live Music! 7 p.m. No cover! For additionag information cagg 541-549-4994 or go to thecgearwatergaggery.com. 5 p.m. Fridays. Email Teresa@NuggetNews.com