There's been plenty of talk over the last few months about whether the movie American Sniper is for or against war, but for director Clint Eastwood there's nothing uncertain about it.

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"I've done war movies because they're always loaded with drama and conflict," explained Eastwood during a March 11 interview with The Hollywood Reporter that was published on Tuesday. "But as far as actual participating…it's one of those things that should be done with a lot of thought, if it needs to be done. Self-protection is a very important thing for nations, but I just don't like to see it."

The Oscar-winner, who has helmed such projects as Flags of Our Fathers and Letters From Iowa Jima, was upfront about the fact that he considers American Sniper to be anti-war.

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The film was scrutinized upon its release for allegedly glorifying warfare, but Eastwood himself doesn't see it that way. It does perhaps glorify some aspects, but largely for the sake of later looking at things through a different lens.

Starring Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller, the film follows Chris Kyle, a veteran who holds the record for the most confirmed kills as a sniper. The movie takes a look at his tours overseas, as well as how the things he saw would go on to slowly impact his relationships.

"You can see it's starting to tell on him [Chris Kyle] and later on when he visits a psychiatrist…you can tell by the look on his face that yeah, he's got some regrets there," he noted. "And that's just the way it is."

"I think it's nice for veterans because it shows what they go through, you know, and that life," added Eastwood. "And the wives and families of veterans. It has a great indication of the stresses they are under. And I think that all becomes…adds up to kind of an anti-war [message]."

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American Sniper, Clint Eastwood, Movies