Michael Moore lashes out at American Sniper, says snipers are cowards

Michael Moore, the director, behind hit documentaries like Fahrenheit 9/11, Bowling for Columbine and Roger & Me among others, has lashed out at Clint Eastwood's Oscar-nominated film American Sniper, saying he was taught that snipers were cowards.

Filmmaker Michael Moore has lashed out at Clint Eastwood's Oscar-nominated film American Sniper, saying he was taught that snipers were cowards.

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The director, behind hit documentaries like Fahrenheit 9/11, Bowling for Columbine and Roger & Me among others, is known for his anti-gun views.

Eastwood's film, starring Bradley Cooper, is based on the real-life story of Navy-Seal Chris Kyle, a deadly sniper deployed to Iraq.

"My uncle killed by sniper in WW2 (World War II). We were taught snipers were cowards. Will shoot u in the back. Snipers aren't heroes. And invaders r worse (sic)," Moore tweeted without naming the movie.

"But if you're on the roof of your home defending it from invaders who've come 7K miles, you are not a sniper, u are brave, u are a neighbor (sic)," he wrote.

Michael Moore (AFP Photo)

The Palme d'Or-winning director praised Selma in his earlier tweets. The film's lead actor David Oyelowo missed out on a best actor Oscar nomination while American Sniper star Bradley Cooper earned two nods -- one as the film's producer and second in the lead actor category.

"Everybody else - try to see SELMA this weekend! Simply because it is a piece of brilliant filmmaking, the likes of which are so rare...," Moore tweeted about the film on Martin Luther King Jr.

The Academy faced a lot of criticism for the lack of diversity in its nominations which many believed failed to recognise the contribution of women and blacks.