Writerly Lessons From American Sniper

This weekend I ran outside the literary fence and roamed the Hollywood neighborhood. I sat down with a tub of buttered popcorn -- yeah, the free refill hog-o-maniac size --  and watched the outrageously successful film American Sniper. Here are a few randomosities . . .

Graphic Violence
If decapitated heads aren't your thing, you'll probably want to pass this one by. And that wasn't the worst of it. I won't even mention the electric drill. Oops. Just did.

Renewed Appreciation
When you see what American soldiers go through in a war zone, it increases gratitude for their service. The hell their families suffer makes viewers appreciate them more as well.

Propaganda
In real life, not every Iraqi is a savage. This movie leans a little heavy-handedly on showing only the "bad guys."

Irony
After Chris Kyle narrowly escaped death time and again overseas, I find it a bit ironic that it's an American who kills him.

Powerful
Clint Eastwood is the bomb at directing. The ending of this film is perfect. Everyone in the packed theater sat in complete silence when it was over.

And those are just a few thoughts. What can a writer learn from all this?

• Story is a powerful medium. Think carefully about what you want to impart to a reader because you will, indeed, affect them.
• A hero who risks his life for the safety of others is the kind that everyone loves.
• Don't sugar-coat the conflict, either emotional or physical. Conflict is what makes a character grow.
• Sometimes less is more. **Spoiler Alert** There is no music with the closing credits, just silence, which is way more powerful than any song that would've distracted from the solemnity of the moment.