<em>American Sniper</em>, a powerful biographical film released in 2014, has gained significant acclaim, yet the infamous fake baby scene has obscured its achievements in the years following its debut. Directed by the legendary Clint Eastwood, American Sniper chronicles the life of Chris Kyle (played by Bradley Cooper), a real-life former Navy SEAL sniper renowned for his remarkable record of confirmed kills while serving in Iraq. The film garnered positive reviews from critics, who highlighted Cooper’s compelling portrayal of Kyle’s internal struggles with the moral dilemmas he faced during the war, as well as his efforts to reintegrate into family life. Notably, the film achieved impressive box office success, grossing approximately $547 million globally (via Box Office Mojo).
While American Sniper delivers an emotionally gripping narrative that captivates audiences with its real-life story, much of the discussion surrounding the film has shifted to a specific scene involving Cooper and Sienna Miller. Regrettably, this conversation often overlooks the powerful performances delivered by the cast. In this particular scene, Chris and Taya Kyle (Miller) find themselves in a heated argument while attempting to soothe a crying baby, yet the obvious use of a fake baby detracts from the moment. This prop baby has led to a plethora of memes, overshadowing the film’s narrative achievements. Despite this, screenwriter Jason Hall shed light on the backstory of the fake baby, revealing that its use was a backup plan.
The Struggle to Use Real Babies in American Sniper: An Unexpected Twist
Clint Eastwood’s Tough Decision: Opting for a Lesser-Quality Baby Prop
In the wake of numerous jokes poking fun at the fake baby in American Sniper, screenwriter Jason Hall clarified the situation by explaining that they had initially hired a real baby, but unfortunately, the child fell ill during production. However, the production team had a backup plan, even securing a second baby (via Vulture). Hall humorously recounted:
“Hate to ruin the fun but real baby number one showed up with a fever. Real baby number two was a no show.“
As a result, Hall recounts how director Clint Eastwood, frustrated with the situation, commanded, “Gimme the doll, kid.” This led to the decision to use a toy-like doll in a film that boasted a budget of $58 million. The complexities of working with children and infants often lead to production challenges, including limited working hours and the need for experienced performers. To navigate these issues, filmmakers frequently cast twins for child roles, effectively doubling the available time for shooting scenes. A renowned example includes Dylan and Cole Sprouse, who portrayed Julian in Big Daddy and Ben Gellar in Friends, among other iconic child characters from the ’90s. In instances where baby characters are required, filmmakers often resort to using dolls, as demonstrated in American Sniper, though this method can yield inconsistent outcomes.
The Distracting Impact of American Sniper’s Prop Baby on the Film’s Quality
Did the Fake Baby in American Sniper Sabotage Its Chances for Best Picture?
Unfortunately, the presence of the prop baby in American Sniper significantly detracts from the overall experience of this 2014 film. Beyond the cringe-worthy moment featuring the fake baby, the film itself tells a gripping and heart-wrenching story, standing as one of Clint Eastwood’s finest works. However, the distracting nature of the prop baby pulls viewers out of the immersive narrative. Even though the doll is not shown in a frontal view, its artificiality is glaringly obvious from its side profile.
What exacerbates the situation is Cooper’s awkward handling of the doll, which results in an uncomfortable and clumsy portrayal that undermines the scene’s authenticity. Fandango critic Dave Karger suggested that the presence of the prop baby may have been a significant factor in the film’s failure to secure the coveted Best Picture award (via The Telegraph). Despite American Sniper‘s commercial success, the fake baby has become a more memorable aspect of the film than its compelling narrative, possibly even jeopardizing its Oscar prospects.
Notable Films That Also Utilized Fake Babies as Props
The Use of Puppets and CGI in Film: A Look at Alternatives to Real Babies
While American Sniper may be one of the most infamous instances of a fake baby appearing in a major film, it is far from the only example. There are various scenarios in which using a prop baby is essential for the storyline, such as in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. This film tells the unique story of a character who ages in reverse, beginning his journey as an infant with an old and wrinkled appearance. Clearly, a real baby could not undergo the extensive makeup process required for such a transformation, necessitating the use of a disturbingly realistic puppet instead.
Another notable example where a real baby was not feasible is depicted in Trainspotting. In this film, the main character, Renton, experiences the harrowing effects of heroin withdrawal, leading him to hallucinate a vision of a baby crawling across the ceiling with its head spinning grotesquely. The unsettling movement of the puppet baby, along with its unnatural features, provides a fitting representation of the nightmarish experience Renton is enduring.
As technology advanced, especially with the improvement of CGI, some movies have attempted to employ digital effects to create lifelike babies. However, in many instances, the execution has only highlighted the limitations of CGI. Almost as notable as American Sniper‘s infamous fake baby is the CGI rendition of the character Renesmee in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2. In this case, the animators leaned too heavily into the supernatural portrayal of the character, resulting in what appears to be a cartoonish figure awkwardly inserted into a live-action context.
