While riffing on guns in American movies on his Trews online web series, British comedian and commentator Russell Brand turned his focus on the popularity of ‘American Sniper,’ saying viewers of the film live “vicariously’ through the wartime exploits of late Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle.
Using footage of Fox News hosts promoting the film -- while attacking critics of the film such as Michael Moore and Seth Rogen -- Brand explained that he understands the popularity of the movie with people who have "never served on the front-lines" in a war.
"One can't help but think that what's really being celebrated right here, is the ability to say things -- to support statements, like Chris Kyle's statement 'I hate those damn savages. I couldn't give a flying f*ck about Iraqis'," Brand explained.
"Now, normal people that have not been in wars can't ever say that," he continued. "Even if they think 'I don't give a flying f*ck about Iraqis,' you can't come out and say that. But Chris Kyle, as man who has seen front-line action, can say that. And so you can sort of vent your "Well, I'd like to say I don't give a flying f*ck about Iraqis' vicariously through Chris Kyle."
Summing up the film's emphasis on Kyle, stripped of the complexities of the American invasion of Iraq, Brand said, "But what does this film symbolize? American military might, American military power, without the kind of complications of, should we be in those territories in the first place, and what are the motivations for being in those territories."
"If you remove those things, it's kind of heroic," he concluded.
Watch the video below, uploaded to YouTube by Brand:
