Success often breeds controversy, and blockbusters are no exception. Despite being the number one movie at the Domestic Box Office for two weeks in a row and receiving six Academy Award nominations, American Sniper has racked up just as much controversy as it has ticket sales. Celebrities and political figures alike have been constantly sniping at each other via social media, arguing about topics ranging from the Iraq war to perceptions about Muslims in the United States. The Washington Post reported that the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee asked director Clint Eastwood to condemn anti-Muslim attitudes. Opinions about the protagonist’s legacy have also been hotly debated, with celebrities such Michael Moore and Seth Rogan criticizing snipers in the movie and protagonist Chris Kyle’s actions in battle. Conversely, Sarah Palin and Dean Cain have praised the central character in the film as a hero, and have encouraged people to watch the film.

The film is based on the true story of Navy Seal Chris Kyle, played by Bradley Cooper, who currently holds the title as the deadliest marksman in the history of the United States military. American Sniper chronicles Kyle’s four tours of service in the Iraqi War, as well as his struggle in between and after his deployment to assimilate back into normal life. Each time he returns home, Kyle grows more distant from his family, which takes a toll on his wife and young children.

Two things stuck out to me when I watched this movie: the ambiguity on its stance of war and the way it presents PTSD in veterans. Depending on how one interprets the film, American Sniper could either be viewed as a pro-war or pacifist effort. Warner Bros. distribution chief Dan Fellman told Deadline.com that American Sniper is a movie about “patriotism, recognizing heroes…it’s about family. Dean Obeidallah of CNN calls American Sniper “a powerful anti-war film.”

While glorifying the legacy of an American war hero, it also chronicles the often unseen effects of war, such as the mental health of the soldiers and the lives of civilians caught in the crossfires. This is a particularly intelligent move because the concept of war itself is ambivalent. By definition, war is taking lives to save others. It’s a complex paradox often riddled in political motivation and the prospect of economic gain. Whatever stance one takes on war, it provides arguments for both sides and provokes the viewer to ponder war on a deeper level.

I also found the soldiers’ struggles with PTSD to be a standout in the film because the presence of the effects of the disorder brings a serious issue to light. The National Center for PTSD estimates that about 30.9% of male veterans and 26.9% of female veterans have the condition. This figure is astronomical when compared with the estimates compared to the rates of PTSD in the general population of men and women: 3.6% and 9.7%, respectively.

In the film, Kyle struggles with PTSD due to the deaths of some of his comrades, as well as from his own actions. He eventually learns to cope by providing assistance to other soldiers suffering from the same illness by providing shooting lessons to them in the woods. He eventually does this until one of the sessions ends in his death. What I derived from this is that more should be done in terms of re-securing the mental stability of soldiers when they return from combat. There are several occurrences of traumatized soldiers who commit murder or other acts of violence due to getting improper treatment. Either the availability of treatment needs to be more widespread, or new techniques need to be used. CNN reports that a minimum of 22 veterans take their lives every day. Something needs to change.

American Sniper is a powerful film that brings several serious issues to light through the story of a valiant soldier’s struggles, successes, and legacy. I recommend this movie to anyone who finds fascination in the genres of war, history, and action. However, the movie is Rated R, so anyone under 17 who wants to see the film needs to be accompanied by a parent or guardian to do so. I also encourage anyone to thank soldiers for their service, as they spend their time protecting our nation’s most basic freedoms, such as the freedom of religion, speech, and the freedom to exploit one’s opinion about a popular movie for personal gain.