Michael Moore clarifies sniper comments

Director Michael Moore has clarified that his comments "snipers are cowards" was not in relation to Clint Eastwood's Oscar-nominated film 'American Sniper', which is based on the life of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle.
The 'Fahrenheit 9/11' director, in a Facebook post, said his negative opinion of snipers comes from his father, who lost his brother to a Japanese sniper during the World War II.
"Lots of talk about snipers this weekend (the holiday weekend of a great man, killed by a sniper), so I thought I'd weigh in with what I was raised to believe about snipers," Moore wrote in his post.

"My dad was in the First Marine Division in the South Pacific in World War II. His brother, my uncle, Lawrence Moore, was an Army paratrooper and was killed by a Japanese sniper 70 years ago next month."
The director said his father used to say that it is cowardly to shoot a person in the back.
"I don't think most Americans think of snipers as heroes," he added.

The director did praise Bradley Cooper's performance in the film despite his critical views about snipers.
"Awesome performance from Bradley Cooper. One of the best of the year. Great editing. Costumes, hair, makeup superb!"

The director, however, was less generous in his praise to Eastwood.
"Too bad Clint gets Vietnam and Iraq confused in his storytelling. And that he has his characters calling Iraqis 'savages' throughout the film."
"There is also anti-war sentiment expressed in the movie. And there's a touching ending. Also, best movie trailer and TV ads of the year.