Directed by: Clint Eastwood
Cast: Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller, Max Charles, Luke Grimes, Kyle Gallner, Keir O’Donnell, Sam Jaeger, Jake McDorman, Sammy Sheik, and Mido Hamada
The late Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle was a certified American hero. Four tours of duty in the hottest combat zones in modern history. He was a motivated patriot, with a loving wife and children, who cared deeply for his family, country and the men he was sent to protect.
Director Clint Eastwood has shown us time and time again that he understands all too well that there are many motivators that push men to do things that seem and are beyond the scope of normal or sane. None more so than War. It puts you in an unreal, yet all too real position where normal is turned upside down and abnormal behavior becomes normal.
But when you are removed from the ‘theater of war’, how do you reconcile normal again? Particularly against the backdrop you’ve just left. That’s the underlining narrative I believe Eastwood is telling here by relating Kyle’s heroic story. The disintegration of our warriors upon their arrival home is all too real and it’s an important tale that needs to be told.
Here’s the basic storyline:
American Sniper relates the true story of Chris “Legend” Kyle, the deadliest sniper in US military history. An American warrior so feared that the enemy put a huge bounty on his head. It is a gripping bio-pic that delivers an edgy, dramatic tribute to its real-life subject. It begins with his early life as a cowboy in Odessa, Texas, moves through his enlisting in and training with the Navy Seals, his romance with his wife Taya, and then takes us inside his harrowing deployments in Iraq and each equally challenging return home. It’s based upon Kyle’s own autobiography and is very true to the source material.
Bradley Cooper is amazing in the role; showing both strength and fragility and adding a totally believable Texas accent and cowboy swagger to it. He’s never been this good before and I’m sure Eastwood had a lot to do with it. Sienna Miller adds another great character to her acting catalog; she’s been on a great roll lately. For that matter, there’s nothing but great performances from everyone in the film.
As for Mister Eastwood, he has become one of our greatest screen directors. This movie is another example of it, his sure handed direction and command of storytelling has elevated the film into the pantheon of best War films ever made. It’s a testament to the high cost of patriotism on those who choose to defend our country with their lives. I’m most grateful to them for their sacrifices. We all should be.
Ok, so my take on the film; it may well be the best picture of the year. Sometimes harsh in its reality and language, but a must see film that will stay with you long after you’ve left the theater.
