American Sniper mocked for plastic baby

It's nominated for six Oscars but American Sniper has become a laughing stock for its use of a fake baby.

Clint Eastwood's war drama, which smashed the former January box office record, has been mocked for its use of at least one plastic infant.

The helpless tot has become a laughing stock on Twitter where cinephiles are wondering how a crew working with a US$60-million budget couldn't have come up with something better.

"Roooolling over the American Sniper plastic baby. Clint didn't even try," @delaneynovinka said.

Roooolling over the American Sniper plastic baby. Clint didn't even try.

— delaney (@delaneynicole95) January 19, 2015

My Cabbage Patch dolls look more realistic pic.twitter.com/pJ6Env9fjE

— delaney (@delaneynicole95) January 19, 2015

"Do u think american sniper's plastic baby is a brechtian ploy to remind the viewer this is a mere representation of reality" said @DannyAston1.

Online media have also taken a swipe.

Women's site Jezebel called the film out for promoting "unrealistic beauty standards for babies".

American Sniper's US$90.2 million opening smashed the US$41.5 million former January record set by last year's Ride Along.

Meanwhile, controversial documentary maker Michael Moore has risked sparking outrage by branding military snipers "cowards".

The Fahrenheit 9/11 director took to social media over the weekend following the release of Oscar-tipped movie American Sniper to insist crack shots who take out the enemy from a hidden position "aren't heroes".

My uncle was killed by a sniper. Here's my Facebook post on "American Sniper", and snipers in general: https://t.co/By4leT6b67

— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) January 19, 2015

Sorry to have to state the obvious again: Invading a country that hasn't attacked you is illegal & immoral. History will judge us harshly.

— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) January 19, 2015

In a post on Twitter, he wrote, "My uncle killed by sniper in WW2 (sic). We were taught snipers were cowards. Will shoot u (you) in the back. Snipers aren't heroes. And invaders r (are) worse."

American Sniper, which has been nominated for six Academy Awards including Best Picture, stars Bradley Cooper as acclaimed U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, who endured four tours of duty in Iraq and notched up 160 confirmed kills. He died in an incident at a shooting range in Texas in 2013.

- AAP, WENN