Rating of
3.5/4
One Shot. One Kill. One Amazing Life.
Chris Kavan - wrote on 01/18/15
Clint Eastwood has proven himself a talented director, but, let's face it, his track record of late has been spotty to say the least. Yet thanks to the efforts of Eastwood, along with a hefty dose of help from producer/actor Bradley Cooper, American Sniper may be the best movie yet from the director - and is certainly deserving of all the accolades it has received.
Cooper originally bought the rights to the film, based on the life story of Chris Kyle, with the intention of only producing (not starring) in the film. But I'm glad he had a change of heart. Cooper has proven in the past, with films like Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle - that he is willing to transform himself for a role. But as Kyle, he gives his best performance to date. He bulked up for the role, worked on his accent (which, considering all the terrible accents we've had to endure, is a wonder of its own) and took the time to get heavily invested in not just portraying Kyle, but becoming him. Working with SEALs, talking to his family (including Kyle himself, just weeks before his death) and certainly going beyond cursory research. This all shows up on screen - the grit, the grind, the emotion, the toll of coming to terms - it's all up there, and it is a spectacular effort.
While Cooper is a standout, the supporting cast is also up to the challenge. Leading the pack is Sienna Miller as Taya, Kyle's wife - who shares some very emotional moments, both during war and back home, and though she might not be known for hard-hitting roles this film, plus Foxcatcher, should propel her to new heights. Keir O'Donnell plays Kyle's younger brother - always living in his shadow, while fellow SEAL brothers-in-arms includes the likes of Jake McDorman, Luke Grimes, Cory Hardrict, Eric Ladin, Kevin Lacz (a real-life SEAL himself), Sam Jaeger and Chance Kelly. While the cast often rotates, you always get a feeling of that these guys really did go through hell and back.
Much like The Hurt Locker, most of the action takes place in war zones - bombed-out urban wastelands where everyone (be it a child or a guy with a gun) is the enemy. Kyle, his career as a cowboy behind him, becomes a sniper in the SEALS and soon distinguishes himself as an expert - protecting his men as best he can. Eventually he is given a nemesis in the form of Syrian Olympian Mustafa (Sammy Sheik) an expert sniper himself who works for The Butcher - a top-ranking enemy and a fan of torture (especially drills). Much of the film concerns the various tours Kyle finds himself on - with Mustafa always a step away but never quite in his sights. The combat scenes are both tense and intense - some of the best depictions in recent memory - never shying away from death or the impact it has on the men doing the killing.
On the other side, you have Kyle trying to deal with life at home. A marriage, and (eventually) two children - while I had hoped the film spent more time on the PTSD aspect, what was depicted was quite powerful - especially towards the end. The film ends on a highly emotional note and the credits role without a sound - likely to give the audience time to reflect - a bold, yet effective, way to end things.
In the end, what American Sniper delivers is an excellent depiction of war and the way it affects not just the people in the war, but the people they come home to. You don't have to be the world's greatest patriot to enjoy this film - the message resonates with us all.
