Bradley Cooper Surprised by 'American Sniper' Debates

Actor Bradley Cooper never expected that his biographical war drama film "American Sniper" would spark heated political debates.

The 40-year-old, who played US Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, the most lethal sniper in US military history, commented on political discussions around the film during the Academy Awards nominees luncheon on Monday.

Speaking to media at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, Cooper said: "You never know when you make a movie if anybody's going to see it, so to have the audacity to think that it would cause any sort of effect at all would be pretty presumptuous.

"Any discussion that sort of sheds light to the plight of the soldiers and the men and women in the armed services, for that discussion to occur is fantastic."

The movie was recently praised by US First Lady Michelle Obama as well. Bradley Cooper has been surprisingly nominated for his performance in American Sniper at the upcoming Oscars. He was snubbed at the Golden Globes, Critics' Choice Awards and SAG awards recently.

American Sniper has been doing really great at the box office too. However, the criticism that the movie is a portrayal of war, soldiers, and Eastwood's interpretation of the history leading up to the 2003 Iraq invasion seems to be a drawing negative attention and debates.

The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee has said that its members have been targets of "violent threats" caused by the film's language directed at Muslims.

However, Clint Eastwood cleared that the movie has nothing to do with party politics.