You’ve seen American Sniper, that movie that broke all the box office records (until 50 Shades Of Grey hysteria) and had cinema goers chanting ‘USA USA USA’, right? No, me neither.

Well I don’t want to spoil it for you but I know that Bradley Cooper’s character Chris Kyle eventually dies in the end, shot dead by a troubled marine.

It seems the American judicial system doesn’t take too kindly to the killing of national heroes after the marine responsible, Eddie Ray Routh, was sentenced to life in jail without parole. The jury found that Routh had deliberately ambushed Chris and a friend of his at a Texas gun range in February 2013 and shot both dead.

Of course there was something of a media circus around the courthouse and people got themselves very worked up. This from The Guardian:

“You took the lives of two heroes; men that tried to be a friend to you. You became an American disgrace,” said Jerry Richardson, Chad’s step-brother. Their words and the jury’s exit promoted emotional scenes inside and around the small courtroom in this town about 100 miles south-west of Dallas.

The movie has so far grossed over $400 million and was nominated for six Oscars, although it won just one for best sound editing. I am surprised there wasn’t a slew of rednecks protesting outside the Oscars as well, the man is a gosh darn American hero and y’all gonna steal away them Oscars what he done won fair and square?

[source:theguardian]