MSNBC pundit comes under fire for calling Top Gun: Maverick ‘insidious,’ ‘poisonous’

MSNBC opinion writer Zeeshan Aleem has come under fire after calling Top Gun: Maverick “insidious” and “poisonous” ahead of tonight’s Oscars.

Aleem claimed that the crowd-pleasing blockbuster is not Academy Award-worthy due to its positive portrayal of the United States military. ‘calls for a re-acceptance of the American war machine as a beacon of virtue and emotion’.

It’s a war fantasy “that could actually play out in real life.” he wrote.

“The war is presented purely as a source of glory and camaraderie for Maverick and his colleagues, who are attractive people and manage to carry out their daring mission without casualties. His training involves speed, sport and glamour,’ he continued, developing his position as an anti-American military man.

However, outraged critics were quick to jump to the film’s defense online, calling its comments “pathetic”.

Earlier during awards season, Hollywood heavyweight Steven Spielberg credited Cruise’s Top Gun with saving the movie and film industry.

In his commentary piece, Aleem wrote that it is “remarkable” that an action movie like Top Gun has been nominated for Best Picture and said he hopes it will “tank” at the big show on Sunday night, as a token pushback to military industrial complex.

“Don’t think, just do it,” Maverick consistently advises his protégé Bradley ‘Rooster’ Bradshaw, underscoring the film’s plea for the audience not to worry about combat,” Aleem wrote.

Maverick wants to address the value of a pilot’s instinct, but also asks his students to suspend their ability to think critically about the purpose of the institution in which they find themselves. (The mantra leads Rooster to defy moral-based orders from him.) instincts, but again, it doesn’t jeopardize the mission.)

“More broadly, ‘Don’t think, just do’ is also a fitting slogan for the US foreign policy establishment, always eager to intervene in other countries without giving careful thought to whether it’s right or will be effective.”

However, many online critics vehemently disagreed with his view.

One posted the article on his Twitter timeline with the comment: ‘Pathetic. Absolutely pathetic.

Another, Joe Krusl, chimed in, writing: “Thank God we don’t have to depend on people like you to defend the country.”

Casey Casal said: ‘It is (sic) ironic that you would write a negative article about a military man whose sacrifices allow you to write this when the country of your roots would detect such material. Like you, I come from an immigrant (Filipino) home but my father joined the Navy. This was a slap in the face for his sacrifices.

“Liberals won’t even be nice to those who protect us,” wrote John, who according to his Twitter account calls himself a “MAGA patriot.”

Someone else said: ‘What a crazy perspective and what a sad article in general. I’m not surprised, unfortunately though.’

Eventually, Aleem linked to a negative Fox News article that had been written about his column, writing, “Lol, this explains the wave of new Nazis in my mentions,” referring to the chorus of dissent he was seeing against his article. of opinion.

MSNBC opinion writer/editor Zeeshan Aleem criticized Top Gun: Maverick as pro-US military propaganda that positively promotes the possibility of bloodless wars waged by attractive people.

The film is up for six awards, including best picture on Sunday night, and has grossed nearly $1.5 billion worldwide, nearly half of the domestic box office.

It also drew praise from one of Hollywood’s most esteemed directors, Steven Spielberg, who said the movie essentially saved the movie industry and the moviegoing experience as streaming services became mainstream and COVID kept everyone out of theaters. during years.