Photo by Vivien Killilea/WireImage(NEW YORK) — American Sniper is not only a record-breaking film, it’s also a movie that started a dialogue about the war in Iraq and the American military in general — one that Ben Reed is “glad to be a part of.”
The veteran actor plays Wayne Kyle in the film, Chris Kyle’s father.
Despite any controversy that the movie may have generated, Reed, 49, said he’s only gotten positive reactions, especially from vets. Meanwhile, the film set box office records for the highest grossing opening ever in January.
“A lot of soldiers have come up to me just said they loved the movie and loved how Chris Kyle was portrayed,” Reed told ABC News. “They loved how we showed families and soldiers dealing with PTSD. Coming back home and trying to deal with fitting back into society. It’s tough on the soldiers. They’ve just been very appreciate of the message American Sniper is presenting.”
He continued, “It is a true story of a true American hero. I think it just hits home with a lot of people.”
Reed also said the reactions he’s gotten from Sienna Miller’s performance as Taya, Kyle’s wife, has been nothing short of inspiring.
“A lot of women come up to me and loved the way she portrayed Taya, just dealing with all the stuff at home, it just really touches a lot of people’s hearts,” the actor said.
In fact, Reed’s been in touch with executive producer Rob Lawrence, who works with director Clint Eastwood directly, and said “they are over the top appreciative of how the movie has been accepted.”
Reed is just enjoying the success of the film and not worrying about any critics of the movie or the story.
“There was no feeling on the set that this was going to be a controversy,” Reed said. “We are telling a story about a young man who was a great American and a great patriot. He was a great soldier, had real life situations with his family. People that have come out and been negative. … I think they are going to regret expressing themselves in the way they did, because you have a lot of Americans aware of this film and a lot of Americans who know Chris Kyle’s story and the way he lived and the way he died … this is a real man’s life.”
Follow @ABCNewsRadio
Copyright © 2015, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
