Like “Apocalypse Now” and “Saving Private Ryan” before it, “American Sniper” is a box office hit about wars and the soldiers who fight them. We discuss how war movies have evolved, and what they say about our society. We also learn how Egypt became the world’s first state, and talk to an advocate for Wisconsinites with disabilities about her concerns over how Governor Walker’s new budget might affect people with disabilities.
Featured in this Show
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Movie Critic Places 'American Sniper' Among Best War Movies
The new film “American Sniper” continues to receive attention for its box-office sales and in generating a political discussion about the meaning of the movie and what it says about the nation’s most recent wars in the Middle East.
But how does “American Sniper” fit into the history of war movies?
In his book, “Videohound’s War Movies: Classic Conflict,” Mike Mayo reviews and discusses a selection of nearly 200 of the most significant international war movies of all time.
A good war movie, Mayo says, “has to give me some idea of what it’s like to be that guy who is there in the middle of it. If I can get some idea of the emotional response that he had to the things that happened around him, that makes it a successful war movie.”
Mayo said he thinks “American Sniper” ranks towards the top and credits director Clint Eastwood for transforming the genre in a way that he did with Western films.
“I would put ‘American Sniper’ up there with ‘Saving Private Ryan.’ It’s a very serious look at a complicated subject. It doesn’t really take any kind of political stand. It’s not really trying to change what you think about war movies, but to make you think more deeply about them,” Mayo said.
The thematic arc of war films begins with World War I. Mayo said Hollywood depicted conflict by telling stories of reluctant heroes who were dragged into the fight but didn’t want to be there. After World War II, the films mostly featured a group of desperate men coming together to form into a unit. Films in the 1950s offered a more realistic portrayal, and the ’60s were all about escapism, said Mayo.
He said of all the war movies he’s reviewed, the 1946 film, “The Best Years of Our Lives,” stands as probably his favorite.
“You can watch that movie over and over again and find something new every time,” he said. “It’s a big, complicated movie, dramatically satisfying, with none of the storylines coming to an unambiguous ending.”
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Wisconsin Board For People With Developmental Disabilities Is Concerned About Governor Walker's Budget
Governor Scott Walker’s budget includes changes to the support and programs that Wisconsinites with disabilities rely on to live and work in their communities. An advocate for those with disabilities discusses her concerns with some of the governor’s budget proposals.
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New Research On Ancient Egypt And Other Top Science News
New research into the earliest mummies in ancient Egypt gives insight into how culture and climate created the world’s first state. An editor from Discover Magazine discusses this news and more in our monthly look at the coolest science headlines.
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“American Sniper” has been a huge hit, and it’s just the latest in a long line of American war movies. A movie critic talks about the changing nature of the war film–and how it can reflect American politics and society.
Episode Credits
- Rob Ferrett Host
- Veronica Rueckert Host
- Mike Mayo Guest
- Beth Swedeen Guest
- Gemma Tarlach Guest
- Amanda Magnus Producer
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