2014 | Dir. Clint Eastwood | 134 Minutes
"The thing that haunts me are all the guys that I couldn't save."
Director Clint Eastwood's latest film is an adaptation of Navy sniper Chris Kyle’s memoir. Kyle is portrayed in the film as a modern day cowboy who happens to carry the reputation for being "the most lethal sniper in U.S. history". With considerably more action than the standard Iraq War film, half of American Sniper plays out too much like an old school western, the story of a gunman doling out his personal brand of justice in unfamiliar territory. The other, more effective half is spent on the home front, exploring the irreparable psychological damage suffered by veterans, even in (or perhaps, especially in) those with an unwavering sense of duty.
The action depicted in the picture is incredibly visceral although many of the sequences feel staged, unnatural, manufactured. From Kyle's first mission, in which he has to make the call to take out an Iraqi child carrying an explosive, to his final showdown with rival legendary sniper "Mustafa", the intensity of each action scene is palpable but too obviously embellished for dramatic effect. More realistic is how the film handles the tension at home between Kyle and his wife, quiet moments in which the soldier can never truly put into words his justification to continually return to the battlefield and aid his comrades.
Though not nearly as flashy as most of the roles in his body of work, Bradley Cooper delivers a cool and controlled performance as Kyle. Cooper carries charisma and pathos through the entire character arc, beginning as a relatively straightforward and strong-willed man, eventually becoming more vulnerable as each tour of duty weathers away Kyle’s psychological fortitude. Sienna Miller plays Taya Kyle, a difficult but crucial role although the film doesn't offer her much more to do than to present a strong argument against her husband’s devotion to the military.
Not quite an accurate representation of the war in Iraq, American Sniper is perhaps best viewed as an action film with just a bit more dramatic heft than the standard popcorn movie. Despite the action reaching jarring levels of incredulousness for a picture that is based on true events, it's still a captivating experience and Kyle's real life heroism is never in question. If there's one aspect of the film that succeeds, it's the air of authenticity surrounding its portrayal of the fragile reality of veterans at home.
FRAGMENTS
- Kyle spots his friend reading an issue of Marvel's Punisher upon returning to camp after his first mission - later, the unit wears the Punisher's skull logo on their body armor and it is spray painted on their vehicles
- While portrayed in the film as Kyle's equal and opposite number, Mustafa is only mentioned briefly and in passing in Kyle's memoir (The Washington Post)
MCU CONNECTIONS
- Bradley Cooper (Rocket in Guardians of the Galaxy, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, Thor: Love and Thunder, and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3)
